Sens.-elect Luther Cifers, R-Prince Edward, Kannan Srinivasan, D-Loudoun, and Del.-elect JJ Singh, D-Loudoun. (Courtesy of their campaigns)
Three newly elected lawmakers are set to join the Virginia General Assembly after winning special elections on Tuesday, but their victories leave the balance of power in the closely divided legislature unchanged.
Republican Luther Cifers claimed victory in the 10th Senate District, while Democrats Kannan Srinivasan and JJ Singh won in the 32nd Senate District and the 26th House District, respectively. While the results reinforce each party’s hold on its traditional strongholds, they offer little insight into how the high-stakes 2025 gubernatorial election in Virginia might unfold.
Cifers’ win in the 10th District, which stretches across 11 localities from Lynchburg in the west to Richmond’s suburbs in the east, keeps the seat in Republican hands after it was vacated by John McGuire, who was elected to represent Virginia’s 5th Congressional District in November, succeeding former U.S. Rep. Bob Good, R-Farmville.
Cifers defeated Democrat Jack Trammell with 58.55% to 41.32% out of 16,265 votes cast, according to unofficial results by the Virginia Department of Elections by 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. A spokesman for Cifers did not respond to text messages seeking comment.
In the 32nd Senate District, which comprises parts of Northern Virginia, Srinivasan, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, defeated Tumay Harding, the Republican nominee, with 61.25% to 38.62% out of 29,621 votes cast.
Srinivasan campaigned on protecting abortion rights, expanding health care access and investing in public education, and he will take on a seat formerly held by Suhas Subramanyam, who now represents Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.
“I am deeply humbled by the opportunity to continue representing our community and its values,” Srinivasan said in a statement Tuesday evening.
“I will always advocate for a woman’s right to control her own body, continue to fund education so our children can get the high-quality and affordable education they deserve, will not back down from critical issues like gun violence prevention, and will work tirelessly to lower costs for everyday Loudoun families.”
Meanwhile, Democrat JJ Singh emerged victorious in the 26th House District, which also includes parts of Loudoun County, filling the vacancy left by Srinivasan.
The first Sikh-American elected to Virginia’s House of Delegates, Singh defeated Republican Ram Venkatachalam with 61.49% to 38.33% out of 9,940 votes cast, running on a platform focused on economic growth, infrastructure improvements, and environmental protection.
Singh said in a statement that as the son of Indian immigrants, he was taught the values of working hard, serving others and persevering through tough times.
“In Richmond, I will take on the toughest fights,” Singh said. “I ran in this race because my two daughters have fewer rights than my wife did. Gun violence is the number one cause of death for kids. And college tuition costs have skyrocketed. Now it’s time to take on those challenges.”
Despite the new faces, the partisan makeup of the General Assembly remains unchanged. Democrats maintain a 21-19 edge in the Senate, and Republicans hold a 52-48 majority in the House of Delegates — a fact that party officials celebrated after the results came in Tuesday evening.
“With our majority, Democrats will be able to advance key constitutional amendments this session as well as pass bills that lower daily costs, protect our fundamental freedoms, create safer communities, and grow our economy,” Democratic Party of Virginia Chair Susan Swecker said in a statement.
Political analysts said the results signal voters’ preference for continuity as lawmakers prepare to tackle key issues, including tax relief, education funding, and reproductive rights during the upcoming session.
Tuesday’s election results came as no surprise, according to David Richards, a political science professor at the University of Lynchburg.
“Cifers was running in a very strong Republican district and was well-liked. He also checked off the Trump-supporter box, which certainly did not hurt him and probably helped him get the margin he did.”
Richards noted that while Republicans had more moderate candidates to choose from, voters rewarded someone firmly aligned with Trump. “This means that most GOP candidates this fall will have to at least pay fealty to Trump, if not actually actively work for his agenda,” he added.
Democratic victories in Senate District 32 and House District 26 mean control of the House of Delegates and Senate will remain unchanged, potentially complicating Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s final year in office, Richards said.
The results also indicate a tough road ahead for both parties in this year’s gubernatorial and legislative races. Richards observed that Democrats remain dominant in northern and urban areas, while Republicans hold firm in rural regions, especially in the south and west.
“The results don’t portend a blue wave or a MAGA surge in November; instead, it will be a bruising battle where flipping a district will be difficult,” Richards said. “Neither party can afford to rest or rely just on their base to win close districts.”
The new lawmakers were set to be sworn in Wednesday, but the formal launch of the General Assembly’s 2025 session has been delayed until next week due to a water crisis that temporarily closed local and state government buildings in Richmond.
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