Tag: virginia
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Democrats are running for every state legislative seat this year, Republicans running for 88%
Democrats are running for every state legislative seat up for election in 2025, and Republicans are running for 88% of them. That means 12% of seats this year are guaranteed to Democrats due to a lack of Republican competition in those races, and none are guaranteed to Republicans due to a lack of Democratic competition.…
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Above average share of state legislative incumbents saw primary contests this year
Thirty-eight state legislative incumbents faced contested primaries in 2025, representing 22% of all incumbents who filed for re-election. While that was two fewer than the 40 contested incumbents in 2021, it was larger by percentage than each of the three previous odd-year cycles following presidential elections. Twelve percent were contested in 2013, 16% in 2017,…
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Fewest open state legislative seats since 2011
There are eight open seats in this year’s state legislative elections, four percent of all 180 seats up for election. That is the lowest by percentage of any odd-year cycle since 2011. An open seat is where no incumbent filed to run, meaning it is guaranteed to be won by a newcomer. Ballotpedia uses the…
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Ghazala Hashmi (D) and John Reid (R) are running in the general election for lieutenant governor of Virginia on Nov. 4, 2025
Ghazala Hashmi (D) and John Reid (R) are running in the general election for lieutenant governor of Virginia on Nov. 4, 2025. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) is running for governor of Virginia instead of re-election. WAMU's Margaret Barthel wrote, "Virginia's lieutenant governor has few official powers. The role presides over the state senate…
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Sixteen percent of possible state legislative primaries were contested in 2025
There were 46 contested state legislative primaries in 2025. That was 16% of the 280 possible primaries between the New Jersey General Assembly and the Virginia House of Delegates, the only two state legislative chambers with elections this year. The total number of contested primaries in 2025—46—was two more and a 5% increase from 2021.…
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Abigail Spanberger and Winsome Earle-Sears running in the general election for Governor of Virginia on Nov. 4
Abigail Spanberger (D) and Winsome Earle-Sears (R) are running in the general election for Governor of Virginia on Nov. 4, 2025. Incumbent Glenn Youngkin (R) is term-limited. As one of only two gubernatorial elections-- the other being in New Jersey-- that take place in the odd year following a presidential election, media outlets and political…
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Incumbent Jason Miyares (R) and Jerrauld Jones (D) running for attorney general of Virginia on Nov. 4
Incumbent Jason Miyares (R) and Jerrauld Jones (D) are running in the general election for attorney general of Virginia on Nov. 4, 2025. According to AP's Olivia Diaz, Virginia's odd-year elections are "seen as referendums on the party in power before Congress heads into midterm elections. ... Democrats’ hold on Virginia has slipped in recent…
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No incumbents defeated in Virginia House primaries
No incumbents were defeated in the Virginia House of Delegates primary elections on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Three incumbents ran in contested primaries, 3.1% of the 96 incumbents running for re-election. This is the third time the chamber’s primaries have produced no incumbent defeats since 2011. The first was 2011, and the second was 2017.…
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Democrats to hold firehouse primary for Virginia's 11th Congressional District June 28
On June 3, 2025, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) called a special election for Virginia's 11th Congressional District to be held Sept. 9, 2025. Incumbent Gerald Connolly (D) died on May 21, 2025. Virginia law requires political parties to nominate their candidates 60 days before special elections, in this case by July 11. The 11th Congressional…
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Virginia 2025 Elections Spotlight (Part 1)
Episode #189 Virginia ‘25 Election Spotlight (Part 1) On this episode: Virginia may hold elections every year, but the 2025 contests are shaping up to be especially exciting. With races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates, the state is once again a key barometer for national…