<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1h4a5N_1H1gGXEk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1h4a5N_1H1gGXEk00" width="2048" height="1536" >Virginia Democrats are looking to build on their 21-19 majority in the state Senate next November, and the results of the 2026 midterm elections have given them another reason to believe the chamber could be within reach of further expansion.That optimism follows a strong 2025 election cycle, when Abigail Spanberger won the governor’s race by 15 percentage points and Democrats flipped 13 House of Delegates seats to secure a 64-56 majority.But a closer look at how voters cast their ballots in this year’s U.S. Senate race, broken down by state Senate district, offers a new measure of the political landscape heading into 2027 — and suggests Democrats may have more opportunities than previously anticipated.In SD-27, based in Stafford and Spotsylvania Counties, Republican state Sen. Tara Durant was elected in 2023 by less than 2 points over the Democratic nominee, Joel Griffin, and Spanberger won the district by 15 points in 2025.Last week, Warner won the district by over 21 percentage points, according to State Navigate.Del. Josh Cole is planning to run for the Democratic nomination, according to several sources. Monica Gary, who ran for this seat as an Independent in 2023 and received 4% of the vote, has already filed to run.Joel Griffin, who ran against Durant in 2023, is planning to run for Cole’s House seat in HD-65. Jannan Holmes, who is a member of the Fredericksburg City Council, has already filed to run for Cole’s seat.In SD-24, based in Newport News and York County, Republican state Sen. Danny Diggs was elected in 2023 by a 1-point margin over Democratic incumbent Monty Mason, but Spanberger won it by 15 points in 2025.Last week, Warner won the district by over 22 percentage points, according to State Navigate.Del. Mark Downey, Jason Parker, president of the Virginia State Building and Construction, and Lena Weisman, a community organizer, have all filed to run for the Democratic nomination.In SD-17, based in Suffolk and Isle of Wight County, Republican state Sen. Emily Jordan was elected in 2023 by a 5-point margin over the Democratic nominee, Clint Jenkins, but Spanberger won it by 11 points in 2025.Warner won this district by more than 19 percentage points, according to State Navigate.Del. Nadarius Clark is planning to run for the Democratic nomination, according to multiple sources. Former VA-02 Democratic candidate Mike Williamson has already filed to run.Dr. Jessica Burgess has filed to run for the Democratic nomination in Clark’s district, HD-84.In SD-12, based in Chesterfield County, Republican state Sen. Glen Sturtevant was elected in 2023 by a 9-point margin over the Democratic nominee, Natan McKenzie, but Spanberger won it by nine points in 2025.Warner won SD-12 by more than 15 percentage points, according to State Navigate.Several Democrats have already filed to run against Sturtevant, but multiple sources have told Virginia Scope that Del. Leslie Mehta is considering a run for the Democratic nomination.Sources also say that if Mehta ends up running for the Senate seat, Randolph Critzer, who is currently running against Sturtevant, will drop down and run for Mehta’s House seat.In SD-04, based in Roanoke City and Roanoke County, Republican state Sen. David Suetterlein was reelected in 2023 by six percentage points, but Spanberger won the district by 7 points in 2025.Warner won SD-04 by nearly 17 percentage points, according to State Navigate.Trish Boyd-White has filed to run against Suetterlein.Warner also won SD-19, SD-20, and SD-25 — all three of which are currently represented by Republicans.Just because Warner won these districts does not mean that Democrats will cruise to victory next year. Warner spent $19,557,662, compared to his Republican opponent, Bert Mizusawa, who only spent $987,432. But it reflects overall voter sentiment in Virginia and is a reason for Republicans’ concern and Democrats’ optimism moving forward. </div></body>

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Virginia Democrats are looking to build on their 21-19 majority in the state Senate next November, and the results of the 2026 midterm elections have given them another reason to believe the chamber could be within reach of further expansion. That optimism follows a strong 2025 election cycle, when Abigail...

Warner won several Republican-held state Senate districts

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Virginia Democrats are looking to build on their 21-19 majority in the state Senate next November, and the results of the 2026 midterm elections have given

Warner won several Republican-held state Senate districts

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