Special Edition: Virginia Elections Spark Major Change in State Politics

Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Well, that’s that! Virginia’s 2023 election took place yesterday. While some votes (like mail-in ballots) will be counted over the next couple of days, there’s enough information about Tuesday’s races to call a major shift.

Here’s the big news: The New York Times reported that Democrats will gain control of the state House of Delegates in the 2024 legislative session. As votes continue to be counted, there were still two races with undetermined winners as of 8:30 a.m. They were District 57—covering parts of Henrico and Goochland Counties—and District 82, which covers Petersburg City, Surry County, and parts of Dinwiddie and Prince George Counties. Even with those two districts waiting to make the call, election numbers show that Virginia’s Democrats secured at least 51 seats out of 100 total.

Results also showed a win in the state Senate, with Democrats securing at least 21 seats out of a total of 40. Two races were outstanding this morning: District 24 and District 27. The former covers York County, the cities of Williamsburg and Poquoson, and parts of Newport News and James City County, while the latter serves Fredericksburg City and parts of Stafford and Spotsylvania Counties.

My wonderful readers, it’s so important to remember that whether your candidate won or came up short yesterday, we’re all on the same team. We all care deeply about our commonwealth and want what’s best for our friends and family members (including ourselves)! If you’re celebrating or grieving today, please set aside some time to process and feel your emotions—and understand that no matter which side of the political aisle you resonate most with, you’ve got a community editor here who cares deeply about your wellbeing.

Take care.

Amie Knowles

Community Editor, Dogwood

Democrats retake majority in the Virginia House of Delegates to win full control of the General Assembly

Here’s what you need to know: All 100 House of Delegates seats were on the ballot on Tuesday, and Democrats have emerged from the election with majority control of the chamber.

What this change means for you: With a Democratic majority, the House will join the Senate to become a roadblock to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s conservative agenda, which includes banning abortion, cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthiest Virginians, and diverting taxpayer dollars away from public education to fund private schools.

Agenda items that will likely move forward in a Democratic-majority General Assembly include improving gun safety, making prescription drugs more affordable, fully funding the commonwealth’s public education needs, reducing housing costs, and protecting reproductive rights in the state constitution.

Want to read more? We’ve got the details ready for you right here.

Democrats secure majority in the Virginia Senate

Here’s what you need to know: All 40 Virginia state Senate seats were on the ballot on Tuesday, and Democrats have emerged from the election with majority control of the chamber.

How this impacts you: Some agenda items the state Senate will likely be tasked with blocking in the coming legislative session include book bans and rolling back voting rights by eliminating or reducing early voting, same-day voter registration, and absentee voting.

Ready to dive deeper? We’ve got what you need to know to stay informed on this topic right here.

Newsletter Exclusive: A win for conservation

We received an email from the Virginia League of Conservation Voters (LCV) last night, and the message was so positive that we wanted to share it with y’all this morning. In short, the General Assembly now contains a “conservation majority.”

Here’s what Michael Town, executive director of Virginia LCV, said about the victory:

“Tonight, voters sent a clear message: They want to see a Virginia that works for them, not big, corporate polluters. With a conservation majority headed to the General Assembly, we have the opportunity to continue pushing forward policies that protect clean air and water, address the climate crisis, grow the green economy, protect communities, and make Virginians’ lives better. Our governor will now have a choice in the closing two years of his term: Will he continue to side with his dirty fossil fuel donors or do what’s right for our commonwealth? We intend to do everything we can to put bills on his desk to find out just that.”

This email is written by Amie Knowles, community editor at Dogwood, lifelong Virginia resident, and mom to a fantastic five-year-old who loves monster trucks.
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