Democrat wins Virginia state Senate special election

Democrat Mike Jones on Tuesday glided to victory in the special election for a Richmond-area seat in Virginia’s state Senate, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Jones defeated Republican John Thomas in the race to replace Ghazala Hashmi, who was elected as Virginia’s lieutenant governor in November.

Democrats were expected to carry the district, which former Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2024 by 30 points. But Jones’s win is notable because the party has a slim 21-19 majority in the chamber and needs every vote it can get as it looks to move forward with constitutional amendments on redistricting, reproductive rights and other major issues.

Tuesday’s victory will also further energize Democrats after a string of recent election wins and overperformances, including in Virginia, where they flipped the governor’s mansion.



https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5674522-democrat-mike-jones-wins/