Photo: Steve Helber/AP
In the 2019 elections, Democrats achieved a major victory over Republicans in the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate. Democrats flipped six seats in the House of Delegates and two seats in the Senate. Democrats now have 55/100 seats in the House of Delegates and 21/40 seats in the Senate.
With their victories, Virginia Democrats now have a trifecta, meaning that one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor’s mansion. This is the first time since 1993 that Democrats have a trifecta. Now, Democrats have full control over redistricting after the 2020 Census. Furthermore, they can push through progessive agendas such as gun control and Medicaid expansion.
Given the results of the election, the political scandal in early 2019 that rocked Virginia Democrats seems to have subsided. The once embattled Governor Ralph Northam, who allegedly wore blackface in medical school, now has a positive approval rating, and Virginia voters supported his goals when they went to the polls on Tuesday. Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax and Attorney General Mark Herring who were also caught up in the scandal also have positive approval ratings.
The results of the election is further proof of Virginia’s trend towards the Democratic Party and the Democrats making gains in the suburbs. Virginia’s trend towards the Democrats makes it appear that it is no longer competitive for Republicans on the state and Federal level. Democrats control both of Virginia’s Senate seats and have a 7-4 majority on its House delegation.
