While Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) had been aiming for full control at the state level in Virginia, Democrats ended up keeping control of the state Senate and Republicans lost control of the House of Delegates. The calls were made late on Tuesday night, which saw considerable losses for Republicans during these crucial off-year elections.
Democrats achieved such wins despite Youngkin's high approval ratings and President Joe Biden's low approval ratings in the commonwealth. Youngkin's been ranked as one of the more popular governors in the country, according to Morning Consult.
Decision Desk HQ projects Democrats win control in the Virginia House of Delegates.#DecisionMade: 11:05pm EST
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) November 8, 2023
Follow more results here: https://t.co/8sug2Xq9ic pic.twitter.com/3nODVnFGZO
Decision Desk HQ projects Democrats hold their majority in the Virginia State Senate.#DecisionMade: 10:36pm EST
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) November 8, 2023
Follow more results here: https://t.co/8sug2Xq9ic pic.twitter.com/hod9XS4wt7
As Jazz Shaw highlighted at our sister state of Hot Air, "What Went Wrong in Virginia? One Word," Democrats made the election about abortion. This was certainly the case in Virginia, where Youngkin hoped for Republican control so as to pass a commonsense law that would limit abortion at 15-weeks with exceptions. Such a modest approach has been seen as a consensus view, and most Virginians and Americans support such protections for unborn life.
Virginia Democrats have not only fought against protecting babies born alive from abortion and put forth a state amendment that would have allowed for abortion up until birth without limit. As Townhall covered at length leading up to the 2023 elections, Democrats heavily misled on the abortion issue, claiming their Republican opponents were in favor of full abortion bans and in criminalizing women for their abortions.
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This hyperfocus has also been the case in elections throughout the country, and has been especially since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs v. Jackson decision. Although pro-abortion Democrats and the Biden administration have engaged in fearmongering and even lying about the issue, that's nevertheless motivated voters who fear that the Republican Party will ban abortion.
The DNC, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), and even Biden himself all mentioned abortion in their statements, with the president specifically mentioning a pro-abortion amendment that passed in Ohio.
When it comes to Tuesday's races overall, Cook Political Report's Dave Wasserman suggested that in Virginia, as well as Kentucky and Mississippi that "political engagement" and "turnout" were down. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Republican Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi had both won reelection.
A common thread tonight across KY, MS and VA: more confirmation that political engagement & turnout are down vs. the Trump era.
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 8, 2023
As of Wednesday morning, The New York Times currently shows that Democrats control 21 seats, while Republicans control 18 seats in the state Senate. In the House of Delegates, Democrats holds 51 seats, while Republicans hold 47 seats. Later on Wednesday, the Spirit of Virginia PAC's chairman Dave Rexrode posted a thread that in part shares it appears Republicans will have 49 seats in the House of Delegates and 19 seats in the state Senate, which is actually a one-seat pickup.
After reviewing the nearly complete results of the 2023 General Assembly elections, it is clear we did not meet our goals. At this time, it appears that Republicans will win 49 seats in the House and Republicans will win 19 seats in the Senate, a one-seat pickup.
— Dave Rexrode (@DRexrode) November 8, 2023
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When it comes to the particularly newsworthy race between Democrat Susanna Gibson and Republican Mike Owen, the latter is ahead and has declared victory. Gibson made headlines when it was revealed she participated in sex acts posted to Chaturbate, and may have committed election fraud.
It’s my honor to be elected Delegate in HD-57 last night. I will begin work immediately to provide the unity, common-sense leadership, and responsive service that I promised. Thank you to the voters for this honor. Now, I’m ready to get to work! #ThankYou
— David Owen for Delegate (@VoteDavidOwen) November 8, 2023
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