Republicans saw a number of staggering wins across Virginia on Tuesday night, leaving them in control of the Commonwealth’s executive branch and with a two-seat majority in the House of Delegates. 

Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin emerged victorious in a close race against his Democratic opponent, former Governor Terry McAuliffe. Governor-elect Youngkin finished the race with 50.68%, and McAuliffe finished with 48.55%, leaving just .69% for Princess Blanding, the nominee for the Liberation Party. 

Former Delegate Winsome Sears won the lieutenant gubernatorial race against Delegate Ayala. The Lieutenant Governor-elect secured 50.82% of the vote while Ayala had 49.08. 

In the race for attorney general, Delegate Jason Miyares defeated Democratic incumbent Mark Herring with 50.48% to Herring’s 49.43%. 

With around an estimated 5,000 votes uncounted, these results are final. 

Governor Ralph Northam released the following statement regarding Governor-elect Youngkin’s victory:

“This morning I spoke with Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin to congratulate him on being elected Governor of the greatest Commonwealth in the greatest country in the world. We will meet tomorrow to begin a smooth transition to his administration.

“We can all be proud that Virginia once again conducted a free and fair election with integrity. It is a hallmark of our American democracy that we all respect the results, no matter who wins. I want to thank the Virginia Department of Elections, registrars, poll workers, and all of the volunteers whose work sustains our shared faith in our democracy. Their commitment and integrity know no bounds. 

“I encouraged the Governor-elect to continue the progress Virginia has begun—

• bringing $77 billion in new capital investment and 100,000 jobs, 
• allocating the largest financial reserves in state history,
• making Virginia the best state for business and for workers,
• investing a record amount in public education, 
• expanding access to healthcare, early childhood education and free community college, 
• delivering universal broadband and clean energy,
• delivering vaccination rates in the top ten among the states, and
• making voting easier, even as other states make it harder. 

“Over the past four years, Virginia has accomplished something unique in America—delivering the most progressive agenda in the country, while also preserving traditions of fiscal responsibility and economic stewardship. Most importantly, we have made Virginia a more welcoming, open, and inclusive Commonwealth. Virginians expect this critical work to continue.

“This election brought record voter turnout for a non-presidential election, because Virginians are engaged and involved in our government and democracy. That’s something we can all be proud of. 

“Finally, thanks to every candidate who ran, from every party. It’s no small thing to put yourself out there as a candidate for public office, and we need good people to continue that commitment to public service.”

The Virginia gubernatorial election was considered by all experts to be a close race.

According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Republicans picked up seven seats in the House of Delegates in addition to winning all three statewide elections. This leaves the Virginia General Assembly split with a Republican majority in the lower chamber and a single-seat Democratic majority in the Senate.

One of the most staggering Republican victories of the night was in House District 63, a majority-minority district represented by Delegate Lashrecse Aird. Aird faced off against Republican challenger Kim Taylor, and Taylor ultimately emerged victorious. This makes Taylor the first Republican candidate to win a seat in the House of Delegates in a majority-minority district since Lieutenant Governor-elect Sears’s victory in House District 90 in 2001. 

Sears, a Jamaican immigrant, was a one-term Delegate from 2002 to 2004. She was the first Republican to win in a majority-Black district since Reconstruction. Last night, she made history as the first Black woman elected lieutenant governor of Virginia.

Similarly, attorney general-elect Miyares made history by becoming the first Latino elected to the office of Virginia attorney general. The son of a Cuban immigrant, Miyares ran on a platform of being a law and order Republican.

It is worth noting that Prince William County and Stafford County saw Democratic wins last night with all eight Democratic candidates for delegate in Prince William winning their seats. Stafford Democrats claimed a majority with the Board of Supervisors.

The Virginia House of Delegates will be required to run for re-election next year due to the fact that the Constitution of Virginia requires delegates to run in redrawn districts every ten years. The redistricting process in Virginia this year took too long due to delayed census data, and because of that, the House of Delegates is required to hold elections three years in a row in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

This could present Democrats with an opportunity to win back some of the seats that Republicans won in what many are calling a Red Wave. However, the party has to be disappointed with the results and whether a potential shift in its messaging and/or focus on reaching to communities of color will happen remains to be seen.