WASHINGTON – In the most important elections of 2023, the DLCC and our partners have won majorities in both legislative chambers in Virginia, protecting reproductive rights for millions of Americans and giving Democrats full control of the state legislature in a key political battleground.
In the House of Delegates, we flipped a chamber that was lost in 2021, showing that the landscape for races across the country has been completely upended since the fall of Roe and the increased extremism of Republican candidates.
In the Senate, we held a crucial majority that has been instrumental in blocking the worst of the GOP’s extreme agenda since 2019. Now the House and Senate Democratic majorities will work in partnership to check the governor’s power and fight for the progress Virginians deserve.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin funneled millions of dollars into these races, making this election a referendum on his party and a proposed abortion ban. His efforts have proved what we’ve known all along: Republicans who want to restrict fundamental freedoms are out-of-step with the American people and are not welcome back in Richmond. Virginia Democrats will now provide a solid check on Gov. Youngkin’s power as he transitions to the lame-duck phase of his governorship.
DLCC interim President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“The DLCC and state legislatures are helping chart the direction of this country. Voters have shown today that MAGA extremism is not welcome in Virginia, echoing the results we have seen in special elections all year long. The work to build Democratic majorities in the states is the work of building a brighter future for millions of Americans where fundamental freedoms are protected, public schools are fully funded, and communities are safer. This new era of leadership in Virginia will ensure that abortion remains legal and that Republican’s MAGA agenda is stopped in its tracks. When state-level Democrats run and have the support they need to win, we put ourselves on the path to progress.”
“Winning full legislative control in Virginia was DLCC’s top priority this year and we’ve been laying the groundwork since January to deliver these wins. We are so grateful for the support and work of all our partners and supporters working to elect Democrats this year as well as our fantastic Democratic candidates. Together we have made this victory possible and improved millions of lives.”
With this massive win secured, we can move confidently forward into 2024 where our fight to expand Democratic power in the states continues. The DLCC’s Path to the Majority and 2024 target map is full of opportunities to capitalize on the success in Virginia tonight. We’ll need continued support from our partners and allies to continue electing and defending Democratic majorities across the country.”
The DLCC was up against unprecedented Republican spending in Virginia this year, but thanks to our early investments and the infrastructure we built with our in-state and national partners, we were able to chart this path to victory. These victories are the latest examples of the DLCC’s momentum. Following our historic wins in 2022, we have continued overperforming across the map and scoring key victories that are shifting the balance of power in the states. The DLCC needs continued support and resources for our candidates to run competitive campaigns as we look forward to special elections that are weeks away, and we will not miss a single opportunity to expand on the Democratic power we grew tonight.
The DLCC is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures. Last year, the DLCC defied the odds by not losing any state legislative majorities, flipping four key chambers, and creating four new Democratic trifectas – the best midterm year for the party in power since at least 1934. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and pass the policies that have the biggest impact on Americans’ day-to-day lives.
