The Investment Whisperer
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Investing
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Investing
  • World

The Investment Whisperer

World

Democrats hold on to open state legislature seats in Virginia special elections

by admin January 8, 2025
January 8, 2025
Democrats hold on to open state legislature seats in Virginia special elections

Virginia Democrats will hold on to their narrow majorities in the state Legislature after winning special elections Tuesday in two seats in a county that shifted toward President-elect Donald Trump last year, the Associated Press projects.

Democratic state Rep. Kannan Srinivasan defeated Republican Tumay Harding to win an open Senate seat in Loudoun County, an exurb of Washington, DC. Democrat JJ Singh beat Republican Ram Venkatachalam to win an open House seat in the county.

Republicans also held onto a state Senate seat west of Richmond, where Republican Luther Cifers defeated Democrat Jack Trammell for the seat previously held by John McGuire, who was sworn into Congress this month.

The special legislative elections – held one day after Congress certified Trump’s 2024 presidential win – served as an early test of voter enthusiasm for both parties as the former president returns for a second term.

Despite the liberal lean of the districts – the previous incumbents won both seats by about 61% of the vote in 2023 – Democrats said they weren’t taking the seats for granted given Trump’s growing support there and the unpredictable nature of special elections. Most of early voting for the seats occurred during the holiday season, and a Monday winter storm dumped several inches of snow on Loudoun County and kept schools closed. Both Democratic candidates drastically outspent their Republican opponents.

The incoming president won 10,000 more votes in the county in 2024 than he did in 2020, while Vice President Kamala Harris received 9,092 fewer votes than President Joe Biden did in 2020. While Biden won the county by 25 percentage points, Harris won by 16.2 points.

Republicans ran on issues that Trump touted, including no tax on tips and border security. As in-person early voting drew to a close, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other GOP leaders rallied with Harding and Venkatachalam.

Democratic candidates argued they needed to keep control of the state legislature to serve as a check on Trump’s power. Losing either seat would have led to a tie in the state House or Senate at a time when Democrats are hoping to advance a trio of proposed constitutional amendments on voting rights, marriage equality and abortion access.

“As we face increasing extremism at the federal level, it’s more important than ever for Democrats to fight back in the states, build local power, and win elections up and down the ballot,” Roger Lau, the deputy executive director of the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement.

Democrats will now have a 21-19 majority in the state Senate and a 51-49 majority in the House.

The results are a boon to Democrats, who are hoping for a repeat of the blue wave that happened during Trump’s first term in office. In 2017, Virginia Democrats won the governorship and made large gains in the state legislature.

This November, both parties will fight for control of the state House and seek to elect a successor to Youngkin, who is term-limited.

“While we celebrate tonight, our focus is already on November, when the Virginia House of Delegates will be on the ballot again,” Heather Williams, the president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which works to elect Democrats in state legislatures, said in a statement. “With Trump and his MAGA allies in the states returning to office, building and defending Democratic power in the states is essential.”

This post appeared first on cnn.com

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Las Vegas Raiders fire first-year head coach Antonio Pierce
next post
Ireland joins genocide case against Israel at International Court of Justice

Related Posts

Prince Harry will be back in Britain next...

April 30, 2024

Romania in shock after far-right populist enters presidential...

November 26, 2024

Recovered Bayesian superyacht transferred to Sicilian port after...

June 23, 2025

‘Tomorrow, I kill you:’ Rescued hostage details psychological...

July 13, 2024

Tsai Ing-wen: the leader who put Taiwan on...

May 20, 2024

Bodies of six Israeli hostages retrieved from Gaza,...

August 20, 2024

Massacre in Burkina Faso left 600 dead, double...

October 4, 2024

Fire at gaming arcade kills at least 20...

May 27, 2024

Hamas leader sends letters from hiding after almost...

September 14, 2024

Unimaginable devastation seen inside Khan Younis, the southern...

February 11, 2024

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Categories

    • Business (1,430)
    • Investing (3,515)
    • Politics (4,746)
    • World (4,650)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: TheInvestmentWhisperer.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 TheInvestmentWhisperer.com | All Rights Reserved