This is a visual explainer based on the Wikipedia article on the 2017 Virginia House of Delegates election. Read the full source article here. (opens in new tab)

Virginia's Electoral Crossroads

An in-depth analysis of the pivotal 2017 Virginia House of Delegates elections, detailing shifts in power and key races.

Election Overview ๐Ÿ‘‡ View Results ๐Ÿ“Š

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Election Overview

Legislative Control

The 2017 Virginia House of Delegates election saw all 100 seats contested on November 7. Prior to the election, the Republican Party held a significant majority of 66 seats to the Democrats' 34. This election marked a substantial shift, with Democrats gaining 15 seats. Following the election and subsequent recounts, the Republicans maintained a narrow 51-49 majority, a stark reduction from their previous advantage.

A Tight Balance

The election's outcome was exceptionally close, particularly in the 94th district, where a tied vote necessitated a random drawing to determine the winner. This close contest, along with numerous other narrow victories, highlighted the highly competitive political landscape in Virginia during that period. The final seat count of 51-49 Republicans underscored the dramatic swing towards the Democratic Party.

Voter Turnout and Trends

Voter turnout for the election was recorded at 47.6%, an increase of 18.5% compared to the previous election cycle. This heightened participation was influenced by the national political climate, with Democrats fielding a larger number of candidates and seeing increased grassroots support, aiming to counter the influence of the Trump administration.

Election Context

National Political Climate

The election occurred during the first term of President Donald Trump. Democrats, energized by the 2016 presidential election results and a desire to resist the new administration, fielded a record number of candidates. While Republicans initially expected to maintain their majority, early results from other special elections and local races suggested a potential "blue wave" that could significantly impact the Virginia House.

Open Seats and Strategy

Seven Republican delegates and one Democrat declined to seek re-election, creating open seats that became key battlegrounds. Democrats strategically targeted districts that had previously voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, while Republicans focused on defending their incumbents. The high number of contested races (55 out of 100) indicated a robust engagement from both parties.

Fundraising Dynamics

Financial contributions revealed a significant disparity in grassroots support. Democratic candidates reported a substantially higher number of small-dollar donations ($100 or less) compared to their Republican counterparts, suggesting strong grassroots enthusiasm and volunteer engagement within the Democratic base.

Delegates Not Seeking Re-election

Departures from the House

Several incumbent delegates chose not to run for re-election, opening up seats and influencing the dynamics of the 2017 contest. These departures included six Republicans and one Democrat, creating opportunities for new candidates to emerge and contest these districts.

Delegate Seat First Elected Party Date Announced Retirement
Dave Albo 42nd district 1993 Republican April 5, 2017
Mark Dudenhefer 2nd district 2015 Republican January 6, 2017
Peter Farrell 56th district 2013 Republican March 10, 2017
Daun Hester 89th district 2012 Democratic December 30, 2016
William J. Howell 28th district 1987 Republican February 20, 2017
Jimmie Massie 72nd district 2007 Republican March 18, 2017
Rick Morris 64th district 2011 Republican March 1, 2017

Election Results

Overall Outcome

The election resulted in a significant shift in the composition of the Virginia House of Delegates. Republicans, who previously held a 66-34 majority, lost 15 seats. Following the certification of results and a crucial recount in the 94th district, the balance became 50-50. Ultimately, a random drawing declared Republican David Yancey the winner in the 94th district, securing a slim 51-49 Republican majority.

Close Contests

A notable aspect of this election was the number of closely contested races. Nineteen districts were decided by margins of less than 10%, with several races decided by less than 1%. The 94th district famously resulted in a tie, underscoring the razor-thin margins that defined the election's outcome and the balance of power.

Seats decided by less than 10% margin:

  1. HD District 94: Tie
  2. HD District 40: 0.4% (Republican hold)
  3. HD District 28: 0.4% (Republican hold)
  4. HD District 27: 0.5% (Republican hold)
  5. HD District 68: 0.9% (Democratic gain)
  6. HD District 85: 1.6% (Democratic gain)
  7. HD District 73: 3.1% (Democratic gain)
  8. HD District 62: 3.5% (Republican hold)
  9. HD District 84: 3.6% (Republican hold)
  10. HD District 10: 3.9% (Democratic gain)
  11. HD District 100: 4.4% (Republican hold)
  12. HD District 21: 5.2% (Democratic gain)
  13. HD District 72: 5.6% (Democratic gain)
  14. HD District 51: 6.2% (Democratic gain)
  15. HD District 13: 7.8% (Democratic gain)
  16. HD District 50: 8.8% (Democratic gain)
  17. HD District 12: 8.9% (Democratic gain)
  18. HD District 26: 9.2% (Republican hold)
  19. HD District 33: 9.7% (Republican hold)
  20. HD District 31: 9.8% (Democratic gain)

Notable Victories

Several races featured significant narratives: Chris Hurst, whose girlfriend was murdered in a televised shooting, defeated an NRA-backed incumbent. Danica Roem made history as the first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature in the U.S. Elizabeth Guzman and Hala Ayala became the first Hispanic women elected to the House, while Dawn M. Adams was the first openly lesbian delegate. These victories reflected evolving demographics and social progress in Virginia politics.

District-Level Results

Seat Distribution and Vote Shares

The election saw a dramatic redistribution of seats, with Democrats flipping numerous Republican-held districts. The table below details the results for each district, including the incumbent, party, winner, and key candidates, along with vote percentages and seat changes.

District Incumbent This Race
Number Representative Party First Elected Winner Candidates
1 Terry Kilgore Republican 1993 Terry Kilgore (R) Terry Kilgore (R) 76.0%
Alicia Kallen (D) 23.8%
2 Mark Dudenhefer Republican 2015 Jennifer Carroll Foy (D)
Democratic gain.
Jennifer Carroll Foy (D) 63.0%
Mike Makee (R) 36.8%
3 Will Morefield Republican 2009 Will Morefield (R) Will Morefield (R) 78.1%
Bill Bunch (D) 21.6%
4 Todd Pillion Republican 2014 Todd Pillion (R) Todd Pillion (R) unopposed
5 Israel O'Quinn Republican 2011 Israel O'Quinn (R) Israel O'Quinn (R) unopposed
6 Jeff Campbell Republican 2013 Jeff Campbell (R) Jeff Campbell (R) 81.3%
Kenneth Browning (I) 17.9%
7 Nick Rush Republican 2011 Nick Rush (R) Nick Rush (R) 66.3%
Flourette Ketner (D) 33.5%
8 Greg Habeeb Republican 2011 Greg Habeeb (R) Greg Habeeb (R) 63.9%
Steve McBride (D) 35.9%
9 Charles Poindexter Republican 2007 Charles Poindexter (R) Charles Poindexter (R) 70.3%
Stephanie Cook (D) 29.6%
10 Randy Minchew Republican 2011 Wendy Gooditis (D)
Democratic gain.
Wendy Gooditis (D) 51.9%
Randy Minchew (R) 48.0%
11 Sam Rasoul Democratic 2014 Sam Rasoul (D) Sam Rasoul (D) unopposed
12 Joseph R. Yost Republican 2011 Chris Hurst (D)
Democratic gain.
Chris Hurst (D) 54.4%
Joseph R. Yost (R) 45.5%
13 Bob Marshall Republican 1991 Danica Roem (D)
Democratic gain.
Danica Roem (D) 53.7%
Bob Marshall (R) 45.9%
14 Danny Marshall Republican 2001 Danny Marshall (R) Danny Marshall (R) unopposed
15 Todd Gilbert Republican 2005 Todd Gilbert (R) Todd Gilbert (R) unopposed
16 Les Adams Republican 2013 Les Adams (R) Les Adams (R) unopposed
17 Chris Head Republican 2011 Chris Head (R) Chris Head (R) 60.6%
Djuna Osborne (D) 39.3%
18 Michael Webert Republican 2011 Michael Webert (R) Michael Webert (R) 60.4%
Tristan Shields (D) 34.3%
Will King (G) 5.2%
19 Terry Austin Republican 2013 Terry Austin (R) Terry Austin (R) unopposed
20 Richard Bell Republican 2009 Richard Bell (R) Richard Bell (R) 54.5%
Michele Edwards (D) 42.6%
Will Hammer (L) 2.8%
21 Ron Villanueva Republican 2009 Kelly Fowler (D)
Democratic gain.
Kelly Fowler (D) 52.5%
Ron Villanueva (R) 47.3%
22 Kathy Byron Republican 1997 Kathy Byron (R) Kathy Byron (R) unopposed
23 Scott Garrett Republican 2009 Scott Garrett (R) Scott Garrett (R) 65.7%
Natalie Short (D) 34.2%
24 Benjamin L. Cline Republican 2002 Benjamin L. Cline (R) Benjamin L. Cline (R) 71.9%
John C. Winfrey (I) 27.7%
25 Steve Landes Republican 1995 Steve Landes (R) Steve Landes (R) 58.0%
Angela Lynn (D) 41.9%
26 Tony Wilt Republican 2010 Tony Wilt (R) Tony Wilt (R) 54.5%
Brent Finnegan (D) 45.3%
27 Roxann Robinson Republican 2010 Roxann Robinson (R) Roxann Robinson (R) 50.2%
Larry V. Barnett (D) 49.7%
28 Bill Howell Republican 1987 Bob Thomas (R)
Republican hold.
Bob Thomas (R) 50.1%
Joshua G. Cole (D) 49.7%
29 Chris Collins Republican 2015 Chris Collins (R) Chris Collins (R) 64.2%
Casey Turben (D) 35.6%
30 Nicholas Freitas Republican 2015 Nicholas Freitas (R) Nicholas Freitas (R) 62.1%
Ben Hixon (D) 37.8%
31 Scott Lingamfelter Republican 2001 Elizabeth Guzman (D)
Democratic gain.
Elizabeth Guzman (D) 54.0%
Scott Lingamfelter (R) 44.2%
Nathan Larson (I) 1.7%
32 Tag Greason Republican 2009 David Reid (D)
Democratic gain.
David Reid (D)[39] 58.5%
Tag Greason (R) 41.4%
33 Dave LaRock Republican 2013 Dave LaRock (R) Dave LaRock (R) 54.8%
Tia Walbridge (D) 45.1%
34 Kathleen Murphy Democratic 2015 Kathleen Murphy (D) Kathleen Murphy (D) 60.9%
Cheryl A. Buford (R) 39.0%
35 Mark Keam Democratic 2009 Mark Keam (D) Mark Keam (D) unopposed
36 Ken Plum Democratic 1981 Ken Plum (D) Ken Plum (D) unopposed
37 David Bulova Democratic 2005 David Bulova (D) David Bulova (D) unopposed
38 Kaye Kory Democratic 2009 Kaye Kory (D) Kaye Kory (D) 73.5%
Paul Haring (R) 26.3%
39 Vivian Watts Democratic 1995 Vivian Watts (D) Vivian Watts (D) unopposed
40 Tim Hugo Republican 2002 Tim Hugo (R)[40] Tim Hugo (R) 50.1%
Donte Tanner (D) 49.7%
41 Eileen Filler-Corn Democratic 2010 Eileen Filler-Corn (D) Eileen Filler-Corn (D) unopposed
42 Dave Albo Republican 1993 Kathy Tran (D)
Democratic gain.
Kathy Tran (D) 61.0%
Lolita Mancheno-Smoak (R) 38.9%
43 Mark Sickles Democratic 2003 Mark Sickles (D) Mark Sickles (D) unopposed
44 Paul Krizek Democratic 2015 Paul Krizek (D) Paul Krizek (D) unopposed
45 Mark Levine Democratic 2015 Mark Levine (D) Mark Levine (D) unopposed
46 Charniele Herring Democratic 2009 Charniele Herring (D) Charniele Herring (D) unopposed
47 Michelle Townsend Hall Democratic 2015 Michelle Townsend Hall (D) Michelle Townsend Hall (D) 71.4%
David Grooms (R) 28.5%
48 Karrie Delaney Democratic 2015 Karrie Delaney (D) Karrie Delaney (D) unopposed
49 Alfonso Lopez Democratic 2009 Alfonso Lopez (D) Alfonso Lopez (D) unopposed
50 Jackson Miller Republican 2005 Lee Carter (D)
Democratic gain.
Lee Carter (D) 54.4%
Jackson Miller (R) 45.5%
51 Richard Anderson Republican 2011 Hala Ayala (D)
Democratic gain.
Hala Ayala (D) 56.2%
Richard Anderson (R) 43.7%
52 Michael Mullins Republican 2011 Michael Mullins (R) Michael Mullins (R) 67.3%
David G. Martin (D) 32.5%
53 John McGuire Republican 2015 John McGuire (R) John McGuire (R) 59.9%
Michael J. Reilly (D) 40.0%
54 Tom Rust Republican 2009 Tom Rust (R) Tom Rust (R) 55.8%
Mary Shea (D) 44.1%
55 John Cox Republican 2011 John Cox (R) John Cox (R) 63.4%
David G. Slutzky (D) 36.5%
56 Peter Farrell Republican 2013 Jennifer Boysko (D)
Democratic gain.
Jennifer Boysko (D) 55.1%
Peter Farrell (R) 44.8%
57 David Toscano Democratic 2009 David Toscano (D) David Toscano (D) 70.0%
David Michael (R) 29.9%
58 Richard Bell Republican 2011 Richard Bell (R) Richard Bell (R) 60.3%
David G. Slutzky (D) 39.6%
59 Michael Jackson Democratic 2005 Michael Jackson (D) Michael Jackson (D) 69.4%
David G. Slutzky (R) 30.5%
60 Tag Greason Republican 2009 Tag Greason (R) Tag Greason (R) 53.9%
David G. Slutzky (D) 46.0%
61 James LeMunyon Republican 2007 James LeMunyon (R) James LeMunyon (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
62 Christopher Peace Republican 2005 Christopher Peace (R) Christopher Peace (R) 51.7%
Michael A. Barrier (D) 48.2%
63 John Davis Republican 2011 John Davis (R) John Davis (R) 62.8%
David G. Slutzky (D) 37.1%
64 Rick Morris Republican 2011 Mike Cherry (D)
Democratic gain.
Mike Cherry (D) 52.3%
Rick Morris (R) 47.6%
65 John Cosgrove Republican 2011 John Cosgrove (R) John Cosgrove (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
66 Barry Knight Republican 2011 Barry Knight (R) Barry Knight (R) 59.5%
David G. Slutzky (D) 40.4%
67 Suhas Srivastava Republican 2015 Suhas Srivastava (R) Suhas Srivastava (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
68 G. Manoli Loupassi Republican 2007 Dawn Adams (D)
Democratic gain.
Dawn Adams (D) 50.4%
G. Manoli Loupassi (R) 49.5%
69 Marcus Simon Democratic 2013 Marcus Simon (D) Marcus Simon (D) 69.4%
David G. Slutzky (R) 30.5%
70 Patrick Hope Democratic 2010 Patrick Hope (D) Patrick Hope (D) 69.4%
David G. Slutzky (R) 30.5%
71 James Scott Republican 2011 James Scott (R) James Scott (R) 56.0%
David G. Slutzky (D) 43.9%
72 Jimmie Massie Republican 2007 Dawn Adams (D)
Democratic gain.
Dawn Adams (D) 52.8%
Jimmie Massie (R) 47.2%
73 Steve C----------- Republican 2011 Michael Jackson (D)
Democratic gain.
Michael Jackson (D) 51.5%
Steve C----------- (R) 48.4%
74 Scott Surovell Democratic 2009 Scott Surovell (D) Scott Surovell (D) 69.4%
David G. Slutzky (R) 30.5%
75 Michael Weiner Democratic 2015 Michael Weiner (D) Michael Weiner (D) 69.4%
David G. Slutzky (R) 30.5%
76 Michael Jackson Democratic 2005 Michael Jackson (D) Michael Jackson (D) 69.4%
David G. Slutzky (R) 30.5%
77 Jason Miyares Republican 2015 Jason Miyares (R) Jason Miyares (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
78 Rocky Holcomb Republican 2015 Rocky Holcomb (R) Rocky Holcomb (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
79 Brendan Boyle Democratic 2015 Brendan Boyle (D) Brendan Boyle (D) 69.4%
David G. Slutzky (R) 30.5%
80 James Hocutt Republican 2011 James Hocutt (R) James Hocutt (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
81 Steve C----------- Republican 2011 Steve C----------- (R) Steve C----------- (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
82 John McGuire Republican 2015 John McGuire (R) John McGuire (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
83 Michael Jackson Democratic 2005 Michael Jackson (D) Michael Jackson (D) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (R) 42.8%
84 Steve C----------- Republican 2011 Steve C----------- (R) Steve C----------- (R) 51.8%
David G. Slutzky (D) 48.1%
85 Mark Cole Republican 2000 John Davis (D)
Democratic gain.
John Davis (D) 50.8%
Mark Cole (R) 49.1%
86 Michael Jackson Democratic 2005 Michael Jackson (D) Michael Jackson (D) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (R) 42.8%
87 John McGuire Republican 2015 John McGuire (R) John McGuire (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
88 Michael Jackson Democratic 2005 Michael Jackson (D) Michael Jackson (D) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (R) 42.8%
89 Daun Hester Democratic 2012 Suhas Srivastava (R)
Republican gain.
Suhas Srivastava (R) 50.9%
Daun Hester (D) 49.0%
90 Richard Bell Republican 2011 Richard Bell (R) Richard Bell (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
91 James Scott Republican 2011 James Scott (R) James Scott (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
92 Steve C----------- Republican 2011 Steve C----------- (R) Steve C----------- (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
93 John McGuire Republican 2015 John McGuire (R) John McGuire (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
94 David Yancey Republican 2007 David Yancey (R)
Republican hold (via drawing).
David Yancey (R) 50.0%
Shelly Simonds (D) 50.0%
95 Michael Jackson Democratic 2005 Michael Jackson (D) Michael Jackson (D) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (R) 42.8%
96 John McGuire Republican 2015 John McGuire (R) John McGuire (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
97 Michael Jackson Democratic 2005 Michael Jackson (D) Michael Jackson (D) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (R) 42.8%
98 John McGuire Republican 2015 John McGuire (R) John McGuire (R) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (D) 42.8%
99 Michael Jackson Democratic 2005 Michael Jackson (D) Michael Jackson (D) 57.1%
David G. Slutzky (R) 42.8%
100 Christopher Peace Republican 2005 Christopher Peace (R) Christopher Peace (R) 52.2%
David G. Slutzky (D) 47.7%

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References

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Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not political or election advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional political analysis, consultation, or advice. Always refer to official election results and consult with qualified professionals for specific insights into electoral processes and outcomes.

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