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ELECTION RECAP: Democrats sweep local and statewide elections, Northam, Fairfax, Herring edge Republicans
A full look at Tuesday’s statewide elections, which saw the state swing largely blue as well as the election of the state’s first openly transgender and lesbian legislators, plus Virginia’s second ever African American to hold statewide office.
Virginia swung blue in a big way Tuesday night as Democrats swept many local and statewide races. The Washington Post reports voter turnout was the highest it’s been in two decades, speculating that the Trump presidency polarized voters on both sides of the aisle.
Democrat Ralph Northam took 53.9% of the vote, beating out Republican Ed Gillespie, who took home 45%. Libertarian Cliff Hyra garnered 1.1% of the vote. In the Lieutenant governor’s race, Democrat Justin Fairfax handily beat Republican Jill Vogel, whom 47.3% of voters sided with. Fairfax is just the second African-American to serve in statewide office in Virginia, following former Richmond mayor and then governor Doug Wilder.
In the Attorney General’s race, Democratic incumbent Mark Herring keeps his post with 53.2% of the vote, shutting out Adams, who took home 46.7%.
Locally, Democrat Antoinette Irving is Richmond’s new sheriff and Nichole Armstead the city’s new treasurer. Locally, Kenya Gibson won the Richmond 3rd District School Board seat.
In Henrico County’s Brookland District, Democrat Courtney Lynch bested Republican Bob Witte in the race to replace longtime Board of Supervisors member Dick Glover, who passed away. Her election flips the historically-conservative county’s Republican majority blue.
In the 68th House of Delegates District of Henrico County, Democrat Dawn Adams clinched the seat with 50.4% of the vote, ousting long-time Republican Manoli Loupassi who took 49.5%. Adams is the state’s first openly lesbian state legislator. In the 69th District, Democratic incumbent Betsy Carr will serve yet another term, easily sliding to victory with 89.3% of the vote. Libertarian Jake Crocker clinched 6.8% of the vote, with Green Party candidate Montigue Magruder taking 3.7%.
