Virginia Democrats scored a giant pickup within the first main particular election of 2023 as Virginia Seaside Councilman Aaron Rouse beat his Republican opponent, Navy veteran Kevin Adams, within the contest for the state Senate seat that Republican Jen Kiggans gave up after unseating Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria in November. Rouse’s win will increase the Democrats’ edge to 22-18 and ends self-described “unapologetically pro-life” Democrat Joe Morrissey’s standing because the essential vote in a chamber the place Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears can break ties.
This contest came about beneath the outdated traces for the seventh District, a seat that neither occasion had a agency maintain on. Whereas the district moved onerous to the left over the past presidential election, veering from a thin 47.1-46.9 edge for Hillary Clinton to a wide 54-44 win for Joe Biden, Republican Glenn Youngkin took it 52-48 within the 2021 governor’s race. Rouse might have a better time later this 12 months, although, as redistricting not solely renumbered this seat (it’s going to develop into the twenty second) but in addition elevated Biden’s margin of victory to 59-39. Each Rouse and Adams mentioned final 12 months that they’d seek the 22nd when it first goes earlier than voters in November.
