The Democrats will increase their control in the Virginia Senate following Tuesday’s special election.
WAVY-TV in Portsmouth reports that Democrat Aaron Rouse barely defeated Republican Kevin Adams in the battle to represent the state’s 7th Senate District in the Hampton Roads region.
During the November election for Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, Republican state Sen. Jen Kiggans beat Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria.
Rouse beat Adams with a narrow margin of 348 votes, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
The Democrat received 50.41 percent of the vote, compared to 49.5 percent for the Republican. In terms of a potential recount, the margin of less than 1 percent is substantial.
“In Virginia, there are no automatic recounts,” the state Department of Elections’ website says. “Only an apparent losing candidate can ask for a recount, and only if the difference between the apparent winning candidate and that apparent losing candidate is not more than one percent (1%) of the total votes cast for those two candidates.”
As of Wednesday morning, Adams has not stated if he will follow this line of action.
Rouse played safety for the Green Bay Packers from 2007 to 2009, and he is currently a member of the Virginia Beach City Council.
As results were being announced, he tweeted his win.
THANK YOU! With your support, and the support of voters from across Virginia Beach and Norfolk, we have won this Special Election. No rest for the weary – tomorrow, we head to Richmond to get to work for Virginia families. pic.twitter.com/F6J8uN9hQc
— Aaron Rouse (@AaronRouseVaBch) January 11, 2023
WAVY reports that Rouse’s victory gives the Democrats a 22-18 majority in the Virginia Senate.
More on this story via The Western Journal:
This could prove a roadblock to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s agenda.
The Republican has expressed his support for a ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy in the commonwealth, a proposal that proved a pressing campaign topic in the special election.
Youngkin endorsed and campaigned for Adams, a 26-year Navy veteran, in the special election. CONTINUE READING…