Following a big and busy election year, State Fair is preparing to start off 2025 by supporting Virginia (again!), which will have 2 special elections on January 7.
The States Project have been back to work with state caucuses, discussing and strategizing in order to help ensure the seats are held. As it currently stands, Democrats hold a 21-19 majority in the Senate and a 51-48 majority in the House, under Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin.
These elections will determine control of the State Senate and the House of Delegates. Democratic state Delegate Kannan Srinivasan is running in SD-32 and Democrat JJ Singh is running in HD-26. Though both largely Democratic districts, keeping these seats will be critical in defending and protecting Virginians against a right-wing agenda, setting the stage for contests in this ‘‘odd’ year and providing an opportunity for reinforcing Democratic majorities in the state legislature.
As we are aware, Virginia is a bastion for abortion access in the South and holding these seats will be crucial in advancing a constitutional amendment to codify abortion access. Additional constitutional amendments will be for voting rights of formerly incarcerated people with felony convictions, and for marriage equality by removing a prohibition on same sex marriage.
Preserving these slim majorities will help build Democratic power and prepare Virginia for the House of Delegates election and a gubernatorial race in November.
If you'd like to join us and donate towards electoral work for these important races, click here to be taken to our Grapevine donation page:
More information can be found on the elections and candidates in these related articles:
Politico
Virginia Mercury
Dogwood
New York Times
Additionally, there are postcarding and phonebanking opportunities available at the following: