2021 Virginia elections

The 2021 Virginia elections were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Republicans swept all three statewide races and won back control of the House of Delegates in an upset. Primary elections were held on June 8, 2021.[2] It was the first state gubernatorial and legislative election to be held since the passage of several voting rights bills into law by the Democratic trifecta in the 161st Virginia General Assembly, including expansions of early voting, designation of Election Day as a paid state holiday, legalization of automatic and same-day voter registration, the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, and repeal of Voter ID laws.

2021 Virginia elections

← 2020 November 2, 2021 2022 →
Turnout54.9% Increase 7.7[1]

Governor

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Incumbent Democratic governor Ralph Northam was unable to run for reelection, as the Constitution of Virginia prohibits the officeholder from serving consecutive terms. Glenn Youngkin won the gubernatorial election against former governor Terry McAuliffe.

2021 Virginia gubernatorial election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Glenn Youngkin 1,663,158 50.58% +5.61
Democratic Terry McAuliffe 1,599,470 48.64% −5.26
Liberation Princess Blanding 23,107 0.70% New
Write-in 2,592 0.08% +0.03
Total votes 3,288,327 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

Lieutenant governor

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Incumbent lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax was eligible to run for a second term, but instead ran for governor, being defeated in the Democratic primary.[4] Though Fairfax won the last lieutenant governor race with almost 53% of the vote, Republican Winsome Sears won this election by almost two points, becoming the first woman, the first woman of color, and the first Jamaican American chosen for the post.

2021 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Winsome Sears 1,658,332 50.71% +3.53
Democratic Hala Ayala 1,608,030 49.17% −3.55
Write-in 3,807 0.12% +0.03
Total votes 3,270,169 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

Attorney general

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Incumbent attorney general Mark Herring ran for re-election to a third term. He was re-elected in 2017 with 53.3% of the vote. A primary challenge by delegate Jay Jones was supported by Governor Ralph Northam, as well as several federal and state legislators.[5] Jason Miyares was elected the first Cuban American and Hispanic Attorney General of Virginia.

2021 Virginia Attorney General election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason Miyares 1,647,100 50.36% +3.80
Democratic Mark Herring (incumbent) 1,620,564 49.55% −3.79
Write-in 2,995 0.09% +0.01
Total votes 3,270,659 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

House of Delegates

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All 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates were up for election.[6] The chamber was controlled by Democrats after the 2019 elections, holding a majority of ten seats. The chamber returned to the Republican Party following the 2021 elections, electing Todd Gilbert as the Speaker of the House.

House of Delegates
Party Before After Change
Democratic 55 48   7
Republican 45 52   7
Total 100 100

References

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  1. ^ SUMMARY OF VIRGINIA REGISTRATION & TURNOUT STATISTICS (Report). Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  2. ^ Kilgore, Ed (December 14, 2020). "Is Terry McAuliffe the Best Virginia Democrats Can Offer for Governor?". Intelligencer. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "2021 November General". results.elections.virginia.gov. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "Lt. Gov. Fairfax announces he will run for governor in 2021". richmondfreepress.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  5. ^ Otey, Jazmine (March 4, 2021). "Gov. Ralph Northam endorses Jay Jones over incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring". WSLS.
  6. ^ "Welcome to the Virginia General Assembly Website. - Home". virginiageneralassembly.gov. Retrieved January 11, 2021.