WASHINGTON — Democratic Delegate Rodney Willett was re-elected to a second term in the Virginia House of Delegates, beating the same Republican opponent he faced in 2019. Democrats first flipped HD-73, formerly a Republican stronghold once represented by Eric Cantor, red to blue in 2017. The RSLC failed to win back this seat, despite spending an eye-popping $176,840 with nearly $150,000 of Koch spending in support of Mary Margaret Kastelberg in a political environment that historically favors Republicans. Voters trusted Rodney Willett to continue building on two years of progress that Democrats have made in the majority.
“Rodney Willett is a dedicated public servant and the DLCC was proud to support him throughout his campaign,” said Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Jessica Post. “Delegate Willett worked to improve education opportunities, expand gun safety, and fight for voting rights in Richmond, and he will continue this work during his second term. Willett’s opponent was a Koch-backed extremist, and voters rejected her — again.”
The DLCC and its affiliated groups invested in Virginia to support candidates like Delegate Rodney Willett and provided critical political guidance, strategic planning, data analysis, and messaging support — all of which proved to be successful with the Democratic victory in this race.
Rodney Willett is a lifelong Virginian who has fought for stronger public education, gun safety, and the Equal Rights Amendment. Willett’s ready to continue accomplishing more for his community in the legislature. He defeated Mary Margaret Kastelberg, an extremist masquerading as a moderate who opposes the concept of a minimum wage, opposes vaccine requirements and opposes universal background checks.
The commonwealth has become a model for passing progressive legislation including making child care more affordable for working families, strengthening voting rights, passing sweeping criminal justice reform measures, creating tuition-free community college programs, raising the minimum wage, ending surprise medical billing, banning LGBTQ discrimination, providing eviction and utility aid, and making Virginia the “Top State for Business” while strengthening workers’ pay, benefits, and working conditions.
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