The Commonwealth’s Political Changes
Virginia’s congressional delegation next year will still consist of 6 Democrats and 5 Republicans, but the GOP improved its vote totals over 2020 in jurisdictions across the Commonwealth, including in traditionally blue Northern Virginia.
That move to the right caught the attention of state-level leaders. “We have a billion-dollar surplus, and I think there’s some ways to use those resources, and I think there’s a way to do a tax cut for everyday, hardworking families,” Democratic House Speaker Don Scott told reporters.
That is a switch from a few months ago when Gov. Glenn Youngkin proposed tax cuts and Democratic legislators wanted more spending on social programs.
Statewide, Kamala Harris won Virginia with a smaller percentage of the vote than Joe Biden did in 2020. While Democrat Tim Kaine was returned to the Senate, he also won a smaller percentage of votes than he won in 2018.
Another change happened in Roanoke, as this was the first election in which voters cast ballots for city council members at the same time as for a council president. Republicans are set to gain a seat after Tuesday’s results.
However, fewer changes are expected in the city of Richmond as outgoing two-term Mayor Levar Stoney promised a smooth transition to his fellow Democrat Dr. Danny Avula.
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