Democrats are gearing up for two northern Virginia-area special elections in the state Senate and House of Delegates next month that could set the tone for what is expected to be a consequential election year in the commonwealth.
The special elections in state Senate District 32 and House District 26, both located in Loudoun County, are slated for Jan. 7. Both seats are considered safe for Democrats, but the party points out that if it was to lose both races it would tie the House of Delegates and essentially deprive Democrats of control of the Senate with Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears (R) playing the tiebreaker, negatively impacting their performance in the next legislative session.
The elections come amid warning signs that Democratic support in the region appeared to slip in last month’s general election, something that Democrats hope to improve on ahead of next year’s gubernatorial and House of Delegates races.
“It would be a shocker if these races were even close. These are seats that the Democrats should win by 20 points or more,” said Bob Holsworth, a veteran Virginia political analyst.