Democratic Insurgent Versus Republican Moderate
January special election to fill seat vacated by Jennifer Wexton features two familiar faces.
The first election of 2019 might end up being a harbinger of things to come for Republicans, who have seen their presence all but evaporate in Northern Virginia. It could also test the limits of the blue wave that washed over Virginia since Donald Trump was elected president.
From Medicaid to Broadband, Northern Virginia Lawmakers Prepare for Raucous Session
Democrats plan to use new numbers to accomplish wide-ranging agenda.
This year’s General Assembly will be like no other. For starters, members walking the halls of the Capitol will look different. The crop of freshman includes the first transgender woman to serve in the Virginia General Assembly, the first lesbian, the first Asian-American women and the first two Latinas. Gone are the 12 Republican members who were unseated, all white males. Also gone are the three members who got out before the bloodbath that flipped their seats from red to blue, also all white males. In their place is a diverse and young group of new members who are eager to make their mark on the commonwealth.
Recount Concludes, Reaffirming Hugo Election Victory
With the Virginia House of Delegates at 51-49 Republicans over Democrats, recounts are closely watched
Delaney Unseats LeMunyon
Former Republican defeats Republican who unseated Democrat Chuck Caputo in 2009.
Democrat Karrie Delaney unseated Republican incumbent Jim LeMunyon in the election last week, swamping him with a decisive victory in a wave election that saw 12 House GOP incumbents unseated across Virginia. Delaney, a former Republican, campaigned on a platform of expanding Medicaid to 400,000 Virginians who live in poverty or with disabilities.
Kathy Tran Takes Open Seat
First-time candidate swamps Republican to take seat held by longtime Del. Dave Albo (R-42).
Virginia’s first Asian-American female delegate will be representing a part of Northern Virginia that has seen a radical transformation during the time since its incumbent took office more than two decades ago. Democrat Kathy Tran swamped Republican Lolita Mancheno-Smoak with a runaway victory, 61 percent to 39 percent. She ended up with 7,000 more votes than the Republican in the GOP-held seat. Mancheno-Smoak’s appeal was limited to two precincts with $5 million homes.
Hugo Leads Tanner by Less Than One-Half Percent
Narrow margin in District 40 could result in a recount.
Del. Tim Hugo (R-40) was behind Donte Tanner (D) by 68 votes on Election night. Then, as canvassing continued at the elections offices the day after, Tanner was behind by 115 votes.
Northern Virginia Leads Blue Wave
Democrats sweep statewide races and come close to taking over House of Delegates.
Democrats swept all three statewide seats this week and picked up so many seats in the House of Delegates that control of the chamber is now in doubt. Voters rejected Republican arguments about sanctuary cities and Confederate memorials, divisive issues that had moderate Republicans trying to win over the most extreme elements of President Donald Trump’s coalition.
Shifting Political Battlefield for Virginia General Assembly
Solid blue urban areas separated by political beltway from solid red exurbs.
Northern Virginia has more competitive seats than any other part of the commonwealth, a ring of districts that forms a beltway of sorts separating the inner solid blue in Arlington and Alexandria from the solid red in rural and exurban seats in Loudoun and Prince William. That puts Fairfax County squarely in the driver’s seat this November, when Democrats hope to pick up seats in an election that has balanced local issues like schools and roads with the ongoing reaction to President Donald Trump.
LeMunyon Seat May Be Democrats' Best Chance of Taking Out GOP Incumbent
House District 67 is one of the most hotly contested races of the year.
On paper, the 67th House District seems like solidly blue territory. Democrat Hillary Clinton won it with almost 60 percent of the vote. But Republican Del. Jim LeMunyon (R-67) has been in office for four terms, a time that this slice of Northern Virginia has been trending increasingly toward the Democratic Party. That puts this district in the spotlight as one of the most competitive House of Delegates races in Virginia, and it’s one reason supporters of Democrat Karrie Delaney say she's got a shot at ousting LeMunyon.
House District 40 Shows Republicans Still Competitive in Clinton Districts
Democratic newcomer Donte Tanner faces uphill climb against incumbent Tim Hugo.
Democrats are energized, and they’re targeting Republican-held House districts that Hillary Clinton won last year. But House District 40 shows what an uphill climb this year will be for them.
Pendulum Politics in Northern Virginia
House District 34 has swung to the left, the right and back again.
Northern Virginia’s wealthiest suburbs are also some of its most hotly contested battleground precincts, the House of Delegates district surrounding Great Falls that’s swung left and right and left again in recent years. What once was the home of legendary Republican Vince Callahan has become kind of jump ball after he announced his retirement a decade ago.
A Tale of Two Immigrants
Candidates hoping to replace Dave Albo are both living the American Dream.
One is from Ecuador. The other is from Vietnam. Both are successful professional women hoping to fill the seat vacated by retiring Del. Dave Albo (R-42). But only one will prevail in November, creating one of the fiercest political contests on the ballot in Northern Virginia this year.
Fighting the System or Ineffective Leadership?
Republican Linda Schulz challenges incumbent Del. Jennifer Boysko.
Democratic incumbent Del. Jennifer Boysko (D-86) is a leading voice of the resistance to Republican leadership. But is she getting anything done in Richmond? Her Republican challenger doesn't think so.
Challenging the Troublemaker
Leader of Democratic resistance challenged by independent who vows to be less antagonistic.
No member of the Democratic minority is as politically combative as Del. Marcus Simon (D-53). Simon’s independent challenger says he says he would take a less confrontational tone.