WASHINGTON — Building off of the DLCC’s historic midterm year, Democrats won a critical special election in Virginia SD-7, securing the first flip of 2023. DLCC Spotlight candidate Senator-elect Aaron Rouse successfully defeated an anti-abortion Republican candidate to expand the Virginia Senate Democratic majority heading into this November’s election. Republicans will now enter 2023 down another seat in the Senate, fresh off a midterm year in which they failed to flip a single state legislative chamber.
“After a historic midterm year for state legislatures, Democrats are starting off the new year with yet another flip against a Republican agenda categorically out of step with voters,” said DLCC President Jessica Post. “Not only was the Republican Party incapable of flipping a single chamber with historic headwinds on their side, but now they are heading into the fight for the Virginia Senate down another seat. Congratulations to Aaron Rouse on his win tonight and we look forward to watching him fight for his Virginia Beach community in the state Senate.”
The DLCC is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures. Last year, the DLCC defied the odds by not losing any state legislative majorities, flipping four key chambers, and creating four new Democratic trifectas – the best midterm year for the party in power since at least 1934. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and pass the policies that have the biggest impact on Americans’ day-to-day lives.
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