Another Year, Another Election

Believe it or not, the first election of 2025 will be held tomorrow, 7 January. It’s actually a pair of special elections in Loudon County, Virginia, and the outcomes will determine control of the Virginia State Legislature, as there is one race each for the State House of Delegates, and the State Senate.

Both seats were previously held by people who ran for higher office, leaving these vacancies to be filled asap.

Suhas Subramanyam was the State Senator, who ran (and won) for CD-10, vacated by Jennifer Wexler, who chose to not run due to a devastating medical diagnosis. The State House seat is vacant because Kannan Srinivasan resigned to run for Subramanyam’s seat.

While Democrats are favoured to win their respective races, it will be a low-turnout affair, so you never know. And it really matters because of how close the chambers are:

• If Srinivasan wins the Senate seat (against Tumay Harding) then the Virginia State Senate will be 21-19. If he loses, then it will be 20-20, effectually making it Rethuglican since ties are broken by the Lt. Governor, who in this case is Rethuglican Winsome Earle-Sears.

• In the Virginia House race, JJ Singh(D) is up against Ram Venkatachalam(R). Currently, Democrats hold a 51-49 advantage because Srinivasan’s resignation doesn’t take effect until tomorrow. A win by the Republicans would result in a 50-50 tie. A tie vote in the chamber results in a defeat. In similar situations in the past, both parties have entered into a power-sharing agreement in the State House.

I tell you about this so that you know that elections don’t stop because there is no presidential contest. In fact, all seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate will be on the ballot, along with Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General.¹ There are elections in YOUR town or city this year.

GET INVOLVED NOW!

I know you’re tired, I know you don’t wanna — but elections matter, and we need to win them all this year!

Since this is my first official post after my vacation, I leave you with these two gems:

1. My pick fave EVER state official in Virginia is Joe Morrisey, who resigned his seat in the House of Delegates due to his convictions related to sex with a minor and related charges, ran for re-election while in jail, campaigned with an ankle monitor and then spent his nights at the Henrico county’s Regional Jail East, and won as an independent. He currently serves in the State Senate.

2. Years ago, on Jeopardy, the final answer was: “The state capital geographically closest to our nation’s capital.” All three contestants got it wrong, with one saying “Richmond” and the other two saying “Baltimore.” (Yes, you should know the correct answer.)

1. Primary on 17 June, General on 4 November.