Republicans secure tie in Virginia House, eye 52 total seats
GLEN ALLEN — Republicans won at least 50 seats in the Virginia House, ensuring at least a tie with Democrats who had fought to retain control.
Several races were still too early to call, but the GOP also declared victory in some of those, with party leaders saying they were confident they had flipped control of the House.
The Republican gains are part of a seismic win for the GOP in Virginia, as Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin captured the governor’s office, Republican Winsome Sears won the lieutenant governor’s race, and Republican Jason Miyares won the attorney general’s seat.
Tuesday’s election was seen as a referendum on a series of progressive reforms that Democrats have enacted over the past two years, including the repeal of the death penalty, the legalization of marijuana, a loosening of abortion restrictions and a series of police reforms.
Otto Wachsmann, a Republican who defeated Democratic incumbent Roslyn Tyler in the 75th District, said he believes the strong showing in part represents a backlash against a Democratic party that he says has moved too far to the left in once-conservative Virginia.
“The average person wasn’t satisfied with that; they were looking for a voice of reason,” Wachsmann said.
Every Republican House incumbent won reelection, including eight whose seats were uncontested. The party flipped at least five Democratic seats, including those in two of the last remaining districts held by Democrats in predominantly rural districts.
A surprise win by Republican Kim Taylor over three-term incumbent Democratic Del. Lashrecse Aird in the 63rd District gave Republicans their 50th seat.
Garren Shipley, a spokesman for House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert, said Republicans believe they have flipped several seats in races where vote tallies had shown the candidates extremely close.
“We are very confident that there will be 52 Republicans seated when the House convenes in January,” Shipley said.
House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn acknowledged the results were not what Democrats were hoping for but said there are still several tight races “that will determine the majority” as votes continue to be counted. The state Department of Elections has said that ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 will be counted through noon today.
“We are going to make sure every Virginian’s voice is heard and every vote is counted,” Filler-Corn said in a statement.
Democrats held a 55-45 majority heading into Tuesday’s election, but Republicans waged an aggressive campaign to flip up to 13 Democratic seats they considered vulnerable. Democrats still hold a 21-19 majority in the Senate. Senators are not up for reelection until 2023.
Republicans had controlled the House since 2000, but Democrats won back 15 GOP-held seats in 2017, helped by voter hostility toward then-President Donald Trump. In 2019, Democrats took full control of the legislature by wiping out slim Republican majorities in the House and Senate.