2021 Virginia elections

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2021 Virginia elections
Flag of Virginia.svg
  2020 November 2, 20212022 
Turnout54.9% Increase2.svg 7.7 [1]

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.

Contents

Governor

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]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Glenn Youngkin 1,663,158 50.58% +5.61
Democratic Terry McAuliffe 1,599,47048.64%-5.26
LiberationPrincess Blanding23,1070.70%New
Write-in 2,5920.08%+0.03
Total votes3,288,327 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

Lieutenant governor

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
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Winsome Sears 1,658,332 50.71% +3.53
Democratic Hala Ayala 1,608,03049.17%-3.55
Write-in 3,8070.12%+0.03
Total votes3,270,169 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

Attorney general

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
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Jason Miyares 1,647,100 50.36% +3.80
Democratic Mark Herring (incumbent)1,620,56449.55%-3.79
Write-in 2,9950.09%+0.01
Total votes3,270,659 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

House of Delegates

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
PartyBeforeAfterChange
Democratic 5548Decrease2.svg 7
Republican 4552Increase2.svg 7
Total100100

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Herring</span> American lawyer and politician

Mark Rankin Herring is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 47th Attorney General of Virginia from 2014 to 2022. A Democrat, he previously served in the Senate of Virginia since a 2006 special election, representing the 33rd district, made up of parts of Fairfax and Loudoun counties. In 2021, Herring lost re-election for a third term to Republican challenger Jason Miyares.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Virginia gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Virginia

The 2009 Virginia gubernatorial election took place in Virginia on November 3, 2009. The incumbent Governor, Democrat Tim Kaine, was not eligible to run due to term limits established by the Virginia Constitution, though others in the state's executive branch were not restricted. Republican Bob McDonnell was elected as Governor as part of a Republican sweep. Republican Bill Bolling was reelected as lieutenant governor, and Republican Ken Cuccinelli was elected as attorney general. The winners were inaugurated on January 16, 2010, and served until January 11, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Virginia elections</span>

The following offices were up for election in the United States Commonwealth of Virginia in the November 2009 general election:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Virginia elections</span>

The following offices were up for election in the United States Commonwealth of Virginia in the November 5, 2013 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election</span>

The 2013 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2013, to elect the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. The incumbent Lieutenant Governor, Republican Bill Bolling, had originally planned to run for Governor of Virginia in the 2013 gubernatorial election, but withdrew upon the entry of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Virginia gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Virginia

The 2017 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2017. Incumbent Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe was unable to run for reelection, as the Constitution of Virginia prohibits the officeholder from serving consecutive terms; he later ran unsuccessfully for a second term in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Virginia Attorney General election</span>

The 2013 Virginia Attorney General election took place on November 5, 2013, to elect the Attorney General of Virginia. The incumbent Attorney General, Republican Ken Cuccinelli, did not run for re-election. He was instead his party's nominee in the 2013 gubernatorial election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 7, 2017, in two states: Virginia and New Jersey. These elections formed part of the 2017 United States elections. The last regular gubernatorial elections for these two states were in 2013. Both incumbents were term-limited, so both seats were open. Democrats held the governorship in Virginia and picked up the governorship of New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election</span>

The 2017 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2017. After the party primary elections were held, the major party nominees were Jill Vogel (Republican) and Justin Fairfax (Democrat). The incumbent Lieutenant Governor, Democrat Ralph Northam, declined to run for re-election in order to run for Governor. In the general election on November 7, 2017, Democratic nominee Justin Fairfax defeated Republican state Senator Jill Vogel to become the 41st Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Virginia Attorney General election</span> 2017 Virginia Attorney Generals election

The 2017 Virginia Attorney General election was held on November 7, 2017. The incumbent attorney general, Democrat Mark Herring, was expected to run for governor, but announced he would run for re-election instead. As only Herring and Republican John Adams qualified for their respective party primaries, the two automatically became their parties' nominees. In the general election, Herring defeated Adams to win a second term as Attorney General of Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia</span> 2018 Virginia congressional elections

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the 11 U.S. representatives from the state of Virginia, one from each of the state's 11 congressional districts. The elections coincided with other states' elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. Primary elections took place on June 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Virginia elections</span> Statewide and municipal elections in Virginia

Statewide and municipal elections were held in the U.S. state of Virginia on November 7, 2017. The main election being held in Virginia was the state's gubernatorial election. In addition, all of Virginia's House of Delegates seats were up for re-election. Primary elections for the House of Delegates and the governor were held on June 13, 2017. Ralph Northam (D) was elected to become the 73rd Governor of Virginia, Justin Fairfax (D) was elected to become the 41st Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, and Mark Herring (D) was reelected as the 47th Attorney General of Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Fairfax</span> Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022

Justin Edward Fairfax is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 41st lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the second African-American elected statewide in Virginia, following Douglas Wilder. In 2019, he faced sexual assault allegations dating to 2000 and 2004, which he denied. In 2021, he was a Democratic candidate for Governor of Virginia. He finished fourth in the Democratic primary with 3.54% of the vote.

Jerrauld C. C. "Jay" Jones is an American politician and attorney serving as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 89th district. In July 2020, Jones announced his candidacy for attorney general of Virginia in the 2021 election. Jones lost the Democratic primary to incumbent Mark Herring, despite receiving an endorsement from Governor Ralph Northam. In December 2021, Jones announced his resignation to focus on family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 2, 2021, in two states, New Jersey and Virginia, and a recall election was held in California on September 14. These elections form part of the 2021 United States elections. The last gubernatorial elections for New Jersey and Virginia were in 2017, and the last regular gubernatorial election for California was in 2018. Going into the elections, all three seats were held by Democrats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 United States elections</span>

The 2021 United States elections were held in large part on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. This off-year election included the regular gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia. In addition, state legislative elections were held for the New Jersey Legislature and Virginia House of Delegates, along with numerous state legislative special elections, citizen initiatives, mayoral races, and a variety of other local elections. Six special elections to the United States House of Representatives also took place on November 2 or earlier as a result of either deaths or vacancies. The first of these was held on March 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Virginia gubernatorial election</span>

The 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2021, to elect the next governor of Virginia. The election was concurrent with other elections for Virginia state offices. Incumbent Democratic Governor Ralph Northam was ineligible to run for re-election, as the Constitution of Virginia prohibits governors from serving consecutive terms. Businessman Glenn Youngkin won the Republican nomination at the party's May 8 convention, which was held in 37 polling locations across the state, and was officially declared the nominee on May 10. The Democratic Party held its primary election on June 8, which former Governor Terry McAuliffe easily won.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Virginia political crisis</span> February 2019 Virginia political scandals

Over the course of one week in February 2019, all three of Virginia's statewide elected executive officials became engulfed in scandal, and were consequently the subjects of nationwide bipartisan calls for resignation or removal from office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election</span>

The 2021 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2021, to elect the next lieutenant governor of Virginia. Incumbent Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax was eligible to run for a second term, but instead unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. On November 3, Hala Ayala conceded the race, making Republican Winsome Sears the first black woman to be elected to the lieutenant governorship of Virginia or any statewide office, as well as the first woman elected lieutenant governor in Virginia's history. Sears was also the first Jamaican-American to become a lieutenant governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Virginia Attorney General election</span> Election for Commonwealths Attorney General

The 2021 Virginia attorney general election was held on November 2, 2021, to elect the next attorney general of Virginia. Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring attempted to win a third term. Herring initially planned to run for governor, but decided to run for re-election. Herring faced Republican nominee Jason Miyares in the general election. Herring conceded defeat at 5:02 PM EST the following day, November 3. Miyares became the first Cuban-American and Hispanic to be elected to statewide office in Virginia. Miyares was later sworn in on January 15, 2022.

References

  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.