Democrats prevail throughout Virginia

By Audrey Carpenter

Just after midnight, election results confirmed Democrats won 51 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates – enough to give them a narrow one-seat majority in the 100-seat chamber.

Republicans formerly held the majority in the state House while Democrats have held a majority in the 40-seat state Senate since 2020.

Every General Assembly seat was on the ballot this year, and Virginia was one of only four states in the country holding legislative races. With Democrats now controlling both the House and Senate, Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) faces an uphill battle with future priorities and legislation.

In the hotly contested Dist. 31 race for Senate in Loudoun County, Democrat Russet Perry prevailed with 52% of the vote compared to Republican Juan Pablo Segura’s 47%. Perry repeatedly hammered the “MAGA Republican,” abortion rights and crime angles in a series of television ads that ran non-stop leading up to election day. The race was also among the most expensive in the state with the two candidates raising a combined $11 million, according to campaign financial disclosure reports.

Incumbent Democrat Suhas Subramanyam, who has represented eastern Loudoun in the House of Delegates for the past four years, beat Republican Gregory Moulthrop in the 32nd Senate District.

Democrat Marty Martinez, a 20-year Leesburg Town Council member, won over Republican Jonathan Mark Rogers in the 29th House District race. Incumbent Democrat David A. Reid won reelection to a fourth term in his race with Republican Paul K. Lott in the 28th House District.

In the 30th House District, Republican Geary Higgins beat Democrat Rob Banse. Democrat Kannan Srinivasan defeated Republican Rafi M. Khaja in the 26th House District. Democrat Atoosa R. Reaser, the Algonkian District representative on the School Board for the past four years, beat Republican Chris K. Harnisch in the 27th House District.

The Loudoun County School Board has nine new members in the midst of three years of controversy surrounding parents’ rights, transgender policy, critical race theory and the mishandling of two student sexual assaults. They include Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg), Melinda Mansfield (Dulles), April Moore Chandler (Algonkian), Deanna Griffiths (Ashburn), Linda Deans (Broad Run), Kari LaBell (Catoctin), Sumera Rashid (Little River), Arben Istrefi (Sterling) and Anne Donahue (At Large).

Caleb Stought beat Christopher Reed in a special election for a seat on the Purcellville Town Council vacated by now-Mayor Stanley Milan. Among the Western Loudoun County’s 13 Council races in five towns, only one was contested.

Chairman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Phyllis Randall (D) retained her seat. Other winners were Juli Briskman (D-Algonkian), Mike Turner (D-Ashburn), Sylvia Glass (D-Broad Run), Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin), Kristin Umstattd (D-Leesburg), Matthew Letourneau (R-Dulles), Laura TeKrony (D-Little River) and Koran Saines (D-Sterling).

In the constitutional office races, incumbent Democrat Buta Bibera lost the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s seat to Republican Bob Anderson, who had held the position previously from 1996 to 2003.

Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens (R) was voted in for a third eight-year term with a resounding 68% of the vote against his opponent Brian Allman, an Independent.

Republican Sheriff Mike Chapman won 54% of the vote to defeat Democrat Craig M. Buckley.

In the race to replace retiring Treasurer H. Roger Zurn, Republican Henry C. Eickelberg defeated Democrat Robin Andrew Roopnarine, taking 52% of the vote.

Commissioner of the Revenue Bob Wertz (R) got 58% of the vote in his race against Sri S. Amudhanar (D).

Voters also selected three directors to serve on the Soil and Water Conservation District board: Incumbent John Flannery, Peter R. Holden and Uzma A. Rasheed.

Loudoun voters approved all three bond questions, allowing $579 million in new spending to support school, transportation, public safety, and park projects.

Loudoun’s ballot featured 79 candidates in 26 local races. For a complete list of results, visit: https://www.vpap.org. Results are not official until certified by the Virginia Department of Elections.