Democrat Jennifer Wexton wins state Senate seat in Northern Virginia - possible chamber control [View all]

[JaneyVee]

Source: Washington Post

Democrats remained on course to take control of the Virginia Senate after winning a key special election Tuesday, as thousands of Northern Virginia voters braved snow and bitter winds to cast ballots in an unusual, three-way contest.

In the race to fill the seat vacated by Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D), Democrat Jennifer Wexton prevailed over Republican John Whitbeck and Joe T. May, a former Republican delegate running as an independent, according to unofficial election results. The district encompasses a slice of Fairfax and a hefty portion of eastern Loudoun County, a region that has leaned toward Democrats of late but remains battleground territory.

With the Virginia Senate previously split 20-20, Democrats must hold the two seats vacated by Herring and Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam in order not to lose control to Republicans. If the chamber remains evenly divided, Northam would act as a tie-breaking vote, giving Democrats control of the chamber.





Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/democrats-win-state-senate-seat-in-northern-virginia--and-perhaps-control-of-the-chamber/2014/01/21/6a0eecac-829a-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_story.html