JJ Singh (center left) and Del. Kannnan Srinivasan (right) speak with reproductive rights advocates in Ashburn, Va. on Dec. 11, 2024. (Michael O'Connor/The Dogwood)
A Republican also won a special election in a Central Virginia area state senate district.
State Democrats won two special elections in Northern Virginia on Tuesday to keep their narrow majorities in the General Assembly.
Democrat Kannan Srinivasan beat Republican Tumay Harding in the election to represent Senate District 32 in Loudoun County.
In a statement Tuesday evening, Srinivasan pledged to continue advocating for reproductive rights, education funding, gun control, and lowering the cost of living.
“I look forward to carrying forward the promises of this campaign to Richmond and am committed to finding common-sense, bipartisan solutions,” said Srinivasan.
@vadogwoodnews Virginia Del. Kannan Srinivasan explains why he’s running for the state Senate in a Jan. 7 special election. #virginianews ♬ original sound – The Dogwood
The three special elections on Tuesday were set in motion by two Virginia state senators – Democrat Suhas Subramanyam and Republican John McGuire – getting elected to Congress in November. Srinivasan resigned from the House of Delegates, where he was the first Indian-American to serve, to run for Subramanyam’s seat.
Democrat JJ Singh won Tuesday night in a special election for Srinivasan’s seat in the House of Delegates. Singh beat Republican Ram Venkatachalam to represent House District 26 in Loudoun.
Meanwhile, Republican Luther Cifers beat Democrat Jack Trammell in the special election for Senate District 10 in the Central Virginia area.
While these elections were billed as a test of voter energy following President-elect Donald Trump’s win in November, Tuesday results suggest Loudoun is still a reliably Democratic stronghold.
Tuesday night’s results mean Democrats will have a 21-19 edge over Republicans in the Senate and a 51-49 advantage over Republicans in the House.
“With our majority, Democrats will be able to advance key constitutional amendments this session as well as pass bills that lower daily costs, protect our fundamental freedoms, create safer communities, and grow our economy,” Susan Swecker, the Democratic Party of Virginia Chairwoman said in a statement.
The start of the General Assembly session was delayed until Monday as Richmond deals with water issues caused by this week’s snow.
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Virginians and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at Dogwood has always been to empower people across the commonwealth with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Virginia families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
Youngkin targets Virginia ‘sanctuary’ cities, backs Trump’s anti-immigration policies
“It’s not just bad policy; it’s a moral failure that goes against the very soul of what Virginia should represent,” said Del. Michael Jones, who...
Dogwood’s most-read Virginia politics stories of 2024
Economic policy, voting rights, and reproductive freedom dominated the headlines of The Dogwood’s most read Virginia politics stories in 2024. As...
Special elections to be held to replace two Virginia state Senators elected to Congress
The outcomes of the races will help determine the balance of power in Virginia’s narrowly divided state Senate. There will be special elections soon...
New Virginia law prevents law enforcement from accessing period tracker data
The new law went into effect July 1 in an important victory in the ongoing battle to defend reproductive rights in Virginia and across the country....
Youngkin signs compromise budget into law, Dems largely secure education funds
After months of sparring between Democrats in the General Assembly and Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Virginia localities can breathe easier now...
State budget compromise reached by Youngkin, General Assembly leaders
The General Assembly is expected to vote on a new state budget on Monday after Youngkin and Democratic legislators reportedly struck a compromise....
