{"id":950902,"date":"2021-11-01T18:43:51","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T22:43:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=950902"},"modified":"2021-11-01T18:43:54","modified_gmt":"2021-11-01T22:43:54","slug":"election-overview-virginia-state-house-up-for-grabs-after-two-years-of-democrat-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/election-overview-virginia-state-house-up-for-grabs-after-two-years-of-democrat-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Election Overview: Virginia State House Up for Grabs After Two Years of Democrat Control"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Felection-overview-virginia-state-house-up-for-grabs-after-two-years-of-democrat-control%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=950902&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1192559360-640x335-1.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"subheading\">With Virginia\u2019s statewide election coming to a close Tuesday and the ever-tightening governor\u2019s race between former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin being considered a national bellwether coming into the 2022 midterms, control of the Commonwealth\u2019s House of Delegates also remains a ripe opportunity for Republicans to thwart the Old Dominion\u2019s leftward shift after two years of complete Democrat control of government.<\/p>\n<p>Only a few months ago, a Democrat sweep appeared inevitable for the three statewide races, with the well-connected McAuliffe polling double digits ahead of the unknown Youngkin. It also appeared likely the Democrats would maintain their House majority, which currently sits at 55-45. Democrats wrested complete control of Richmond in 2019, when they flipped multiple Republican seats to turn a razor-thin 51-49 GOP majority.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>Now, with President Joe Biden\u2019s unpopularity growing in the state and public education becoming a dark horse issue for Democrats, control of the lower chamber is considered anyone\u2019s game.<\/p>\n<p>While House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn insists that her \u201cmajority is safe,\u201d but concedes that the governor\u2019s race is \u201ccloser than anybody would like,\u201d House GOP caucus spokesman Garren Shipley <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/elections-richmond-virginia-state-governments-police-reform-d5b7e6e235f6341e9562140f060dd9c9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a>,&nbsp;\u201cWhat we\u2019re about to see is a referendum on, \u2018Is Virginia as far left as the Democrats acted?\u2019\u201d according to the Associated Press (AP).<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, in a piece from Fredericksburg-based <em>Free Lance-Star<\/em>, the editorial team <a href=\"https:\/\/fredericksburg.com\/opinion\/editorial-pendulum-is-swinging-back-to-the-center-in-virginia\/article_e9f3acf0-783e-5dab-b2c6-098b7eac0ad7.html\">believes<\/a> the \u201cpendulum is swinging back to the center,\u201d pointing out a couple key areas that might shift both the governor\u2019s mansion and the lower chamber to Republican control:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<blockquote readability=\"17\">\n<p class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\" data-el=\"text\"><strong>Biden\u2019s plummeting poll numbers, along with manifest incompetency demonstrated by his administration in the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, is a drag on Democrats running local and statewide races<\/strong>. That\u2019s part of the reason why McAuliffe\u2019s tone-deaf comment sparked an intense backlash among Virginia voters that could cost him the election. [Emphasis added].<\/p>\n<p class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\" data-el=\"text\"><strong>When politicians appease their political bases by listening more to activists than ordinary citizens, they often misread the public mood<\/strong> and make ill-advised statements that can backfire spectacularly. And after a year of having to deal with virtual schooling, parents in Virginia were in no mood to be told they didn\u2019t have a say in their children\u2019s education. [Emphasis added].<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Even former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder (D), the country\u2019s first black governor since Reconstruction and first ever elected black governor of any U.S. state, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/doug-wilder-virginia-democrats-vote-black-support\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> of Virginians that they are&nbsp;\u201cindependent-thinking people. \u2026 And you see what the polls are showing as it relates to independents: Youngkin is leading with independents as they crossover,\u201d according to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>With down ballot implications, Wilder also addressed a major issue the McAuliffe campaign could face by taking a significant portion of Virginia\u2019s black vote for granted, particularly in must-have areas like Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads, saying when asked about why black voters might be reluctant to support McAuliffe,&nbsp;\u201cThe better question would be: \u2018What reasons do they have to turn out?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wilder has not endorsed a candidate for governor this cycle, and the Hampton Roads Black Caucus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/10\/02\/exclusive-black-caucus-endorses-virginia-republican-glenn-youngkin-for-governor-after-backing-mcauliffe-in-2013\/\">endorsed<\/a> Youngkin this year after supporting McAuliffe in 2013 when he won the governor\u2019s mansion.<\/p>\n<p>Political activity across the Commonwealth also indicates the fight for control of the House is at a fevered pitch.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Post<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2021\/10\/27\/virginia-poll-watchers-election\/\">reported<\/a> Wednesday of an \u201carmy\u201d of Republican poll watchers involved in locations across the state, including in deep blue Fairfax and Loudoun counties.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>According to the <em>Post<\/em>,&nbsp;Fairfax County General Registrar Scott Konopasek reasoned that the high Republican involvement is due to a \u201cnarrative\u201d surrounding election integrity, or lack thereof, that has amounted to a \u201csense among some staff members that the observers don\u2019t trust them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But Fairfax County Republican Committee chairman Steve Knotts told the <em>Post<\/em> he did not believe voter fraud was an issue in Virginia, but that the heavy involvement is a \u201c\u2018hands-on\u2019 way for those with questions to get them answered.\u201d Knotts confirmed to the <em>Post<\/em> 500 to 600 persons signed up to be poll watchers and said that those numbers point to broader enthusiasm for Youngkin.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>This cycle\u2019s races have also seen massive campaign expenditures.&nbsp;\u201cI have never seen in the decades I\u2019ve been watching Virginia politics so many House of Delegates candidates who has raised over a million dollars for an $18,000 per year job,\u201d CBS 6 political analyst Dr. Bob Holsworth <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtvr.com\/news\/virginia-politics\/this-competitive-race-could-determine-who-controls-virginia-house-of-delegates\">said<\/a>. \u201cIt is just stunning to see the amount of money, which again tells us how the parties view the stakes in this race.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, according to the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), Democrats have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vpap.org\/elections\/house\/most_raised\/\">outraised<\/a> Republicans by more than double overall, and nine of the top ten individual fundraisers are Democrats. In fact, only one of the top 18 fundraisers \u2014 all of whom have over $1 million \u2014 is a Republican.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the massive amount of money raised by Democrats, all but one of the top nine are ranked by VPAP as \u201ccompetitive\u201d races, and many are rated as \u201ctoss-ups\u201d by state legislature prognosticator CNalysis. The only fundraiser not competing in a contested race is the speaker, Filler-Corn.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>CNalysis recently <a href=\"https:\/\/cnalysis.com\/articles\/with-less-than-50-days-until-election-day-the-virginia-house-is-a-toss-up-again\/\">moved<\/a> the lower chamber\u2019s projected balance of power from \u201ctilt democratic\u201d to \u201ctoss-up,\u201d considering five House districts held by Democrat incumbents to be on a razor\u2019s edge. VPAP&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vpap.org\/elections\/house\/vpap-index\/district-10\">considers<\/a> 23 races to be \u201ccompeititive,\u201d and Ballotpedia has <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Virginia_House_of_Delegates_elections,_2021\">picked<\/a> 25 \u201cbattleground\u201d districts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RACES TO WATCH:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>House District 10: Gooditis v. Clemente<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The District 10 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vpap.org\/visuals\/visual\/targeted-races\/?date=2021-10-27\">race<\/a> between incumbent Democrat Del. Wendy Gooditis and Republican challenger Nick Clemente will shape up to be one of the most expensive of the cycle. Gooditis is the top fundraiser in the state, sitting at over $2.8 million, while Clemente is the only Republican to raise more than $1 million, with just over $1.5 million.<\/p>\n<p>In 2019, Gooditis\u2019s margin of victory was 4.7 points, while in 2020, Biden won the district by 16.2 points. Now, however, VPAP has rated this race \u201ccompetitive\u201d and shows Clemente with a 0.5 point advantage over Gooditis.<\/p>\n<p>District 10 includes the political hotbed county of Loudoun, which has in the past been solidly Republican but has seen a leftward shift in recent elections. Loudoun is the site of intense debate over public schooling in Virginia and the U.S., with Critical Race Theory and transgender policies as the driving force behind public fervor \u2014 issues that Youngkin has made a mainstay during his campaign, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/10\/04\/republican-youngkin-launches-parents-matter-to-counter-democrat-mcauliffes-anti-parents-education-message\/\">launching<\/a> a \u201cParents Matter in Education\u201d message to rebuke McAuliffe\u2019s debate night assertion that parents should not be telling schools what they should teach.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2021\/10\/27\/virginia-house-delegates-election-nova\/\">According<\/a> to the <em>Washington Post<\/em>, Gooditis \u201cis scrambling to generate enthusiasm and defend herself from attack ads on her voting record.\u201d The publication went on to say that common ground with Republicans she cultivated to win two terms in the district has \u201ctotally eroded,\u201d under, according to Gooditis, \u201cfalse right-wing messaging.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe elections can\u2019t be a referendum [on Democratic leadership] if people don\u2019t know or don\u2019t acknowledge the facts,\u201d Gooditis said. \u201cYou can\u2019t have a referendum on misinformation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Loudoun has also had a massive influx of Republican poll watchers. Loudoun County General Registrar Judy Brown said, \u201cThis year, we have had poll watchers every day, all day long, watching the process of what\u2019s going on,\u201d according to the <em>Post<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Brown confirmed also that Republican observers often outnumber Democrats \u201c2 to 1 at each location.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey observe the voter check-in and the ballot drop boxes,\u201d the <em>Post<\/em> continued. \u201cThey have asked to observe election officers opening voting equipment. They watch as election officers report the vote tallies at the end of the night and ensure slates are blank when the polls open in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Youngkin plans to finish up his campaign in Loudoun, likely as a nod to the education issues that many believe boosted him ahead of McAuliffe in recent weeks.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>House District 12: Hurst v. Ballard<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The District 12 race between incumbent Democrat Del. Chris Hurst and Republican challenger Jason Ballard is one of only two districts that is both rural and held by a Democrat. Hurst, seeking his third term, is the only Democrat representing a district in Southwest.<\/p>\n<p>Hurst, a former television journalist, has far outraised Ballard, an attorney, Army veteran, and member of the Pearisburg town council. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vpap.org\/visuals\/visual\/targeted-races\/?date=2021-10-27\">According<\/a> to VPAP, Hurst has raised over $1.5 million, while Ballard has raised just over $770,000.<\/p>\n<p>In 2019, Hurst\u2019s margin of victory was 7.2 points, while in 2020, Biden won by 5.6 points. Despite <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/donald-trump-business-richmond-virginia-elections-169b9ad9004a332a2e0b244966c3e34e\">being<\/a> outraised, and dealing with a Democrat \u201cbuilt-in constituency\u201d of about 30,000 from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VPAP gives Ballard a 1.9 point advantage.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>House District 28: Cole v. Durant<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The District 28 race between incumbent Democrat Del. Joshua G. Cole and Republican challenger Tara Durant is another Northern Virginia district teetering on the edge of flipping red. This seat was once held by longtime Republican Speaker of the House Bill Howell but was flipped blue in 2019 by Cole \u2014 after having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2021\/10\/27\/virginia-house-delegates-election-nova\/\">lost<\/a> his 2017 bid for the seat by fewer than 100 votes.<\/p>\n<p>Cole, a bisexual Baptist minister, has far <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vpap.org\/visuals\/visual\/targeted-races\/?date=2021-10-27\">outraised<\/a> Durant, a Catholic elementary school teacher, with just over $1.74 million. Durant has raised just over $944,000.<\/p>\n<p>Cole\u2019s margin of victory in 2019 was four points, while Biden won the district by 10.5 points \u2014 the district had been held by a Republican for 38 years beforehand. Despite this, VPAP gives Durant a 7.4 point favor going into Election Day.<\/p>\n<p>But Cole \u2014 who apparently has stayed away from mentioning Biden \u2014 is worried about Democrat enthusiasm in his district that includes Fredericksburg, saying at an event, \u201cI know this has been one of the longest two years of your life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to the <em>Free Lance-Star<\/em>, Fredericksburg-based University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth <a href=\"https:\/\/fredericksburg.com\/news\/local\/house-candidates-haul-in-big-dollars-in-28th-district-race-in-fredericksburg-area\/article_f541eb0a-2bdc-5761-8ac0-4144b123320a.html\">said<\/a> the 28th District is \u201cone of the most competitive races in Virginia and one of a handful that could determine whether Republicans can overturn the Democrats\u2019 55-45 majority.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\" data-el=\"text\"><strong><em>House District 66: Sponsler v. Cherry<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\" data-el=\"text\">The District 66 race is one to be watched closely. It is the bluest seat held by a Republican, and former Speaker Del. Kirk Cox, who ran in Virginia\u2019s gubernatorial convention against would-be candidate Youngkin, is not seeking reelection after holding the seat for over 30 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\" data-el=\"text\">Republican candidate Mike Cherry, like Cox, is an educator who is <a href=\"https:\/\/richmond.com\/news\/local\/govt-and-politics\/the-chesterfield-seat-gops-kirk-cox-held-for-more-than-30-years-is-a-key\/article_8f14b191-6aa5-53d4-b007-f0f2af7682a4.html\">facing<\/a> off against Democrat former National Park Service ranger Katie Sponsler.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\" data-el=\"text\">According to VPM, Democrats in the 66th should be <a href=\"https:\/\/vpm.org\/news\/articles\/26674\/former-republican-speakers-seat-represents-best-chance-for-house-democrats\">seeing<\/a> advantages from a recent redistricting that \u201d introduced a swath of Democratic voters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\" data-el=\"text\">Data from VPAP corroborates this expectation, as told by VPM, \u201cDistrict 66 had the greatest political swing of all redrawn districts, moving 32 points to the left. That shift showed in the 2019 general election results, when Cox won by only five points, his closest margin ever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\" data-el=\"text\">Sponsler has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vpap.org\/visuals\/visual\/targeted-races\/?date=2021-10-27\">outpaced<\/a> Cherry in fundraising, with over $925,000. Cherry has raised just over $731,000. In 2019, Cox reclaimed his seat with a margin of victory of 4.7 points, while Biden won the district in 2020 by 10.3 points. Despite this, VPAP still gives Cherry a 2.3 point advantage over Sponsler.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\" data-el=\"text\">While Cherry is focusing his campaign on parents\u2019 role in education, there appears to be a Democrat enthusiasm gap in the 66th as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\" data-el=\"text\">According to the <em>Richmond Times-Dispatch<\/em>, Sponsler <a href=\"https:\/\/richmond.com\/news\/local\/govt-and-politics\/the-chesterfield-seat-gops-kirk-cox-held-for-more-than-30-years-is-a-key\/article_8f14b191-6aa5-53d4-b007-f0f2af7682a4.html\">said<\/a> of the lack of enthusiasm, \u201cIs there the same energy as when Trump was in office and we had this crisis management mindset by people directly harmed by some of his policies? No, there is not that kind of feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\" data-el=\"text\">Sponsler then denied that there was a lack of enthusiasm, saying, \u201cIt\u2019s not a lack of enthusiasm. It\u2019s, \u2018OK, we can breathe a little bit.\u2019 That\u2019s good. I\u2019ve been to war, and being on high alert all the time is not healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\" data-el=\"text\">Democrats see this district as one of their biggest pickup opportunities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lee-article-text\" readability=\"79.842857142857\">\n<p><strong><em>House District 73: Willett v. Kastelberg<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>District 73 between incumbent Democrat Del. Rodney Willett and Republican challenger Mary Kastelberg is a rematch from 2019, where Willett <a href=\"https:\/\/richmond.com\/news\/state-and-regional\/govt-and-politics\/kastelberg-decries-campaign-ads-as-false-willett-very-comfortable-with-claims\/article_2988e2e5-f062-5887-9771-71906b472670.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">won<\/a> the Henrico suburb of Richmond by about 1,300 votes, according to the <em>Richmond Times-Dispatch<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Willett has far <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vpap.org\/visuals\/visual\/targeted-races\/?date=2021-10-27\">outraised<\/a> Kastelberg with over $1.7 million, while Kastelberg has raised just over $815,000.<\/p>\n<p>In 2019, Willett\u2019s margin of victory was 4.5 points, and Biden won the district by 20.5 points in 2020. Despite this, VPAP only gives Willett a 0.2 point advantage over Kastelberg and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtvr.com\/news\/virginia-politics\/this-competitive-race-could-determine-who-controls-virginia-house-of-delegates\">lists<\/a>&nbsp;it as the most competitive race based on recent voting patterns.<\/p>\n<p>Kastelberg, however, says that the Republican excitement and engagement levels this year, as compared to 2019, are \u201cso much higher,\u201d according to CBS 6.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>House District 75: Tyler v. Wachsmann<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>District 75 is another rural seat held by a Democrat, incumbent Del. Roslyn Tyler, who is being challenged by Republican Otto Wachsmann. Tyler has <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/donald-trump-business-richmond-virginia-elections-169b9ad9004a332a2e0b244966c3e34e\">held<\/a> the Southside district since 2006 and is in a rematch with Wachsmann, who lost in 2019 by only 506 votes.<\/p>\n<p>In another instance of the Democrat far outpacing Republican fundraising numbers, Tyler has raised over $1.5 million, while Wachsmann has almost $740,000.<\/p>\n<p>In 2019, Tyler\u2019s margin of victory was only 1.1 points, while Biden won the district by 7.3 points in 2020. VPAP gives the 15-year incumbent only a 0.8 point advantage, but CNalysis rates this race at \u201cTile R.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"lee-article-text\" readability=\"55\">\n<p><strong><em>House District 83: Guy v. Anderson<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As aforementioned, Hampton Roads is a major grab in Virginia politics, and District 83 is exemplary of potential Democrat erosion in the area.<\/p>\n<p>Democrat incumbent Del. Nancy Guy, who won her seat in the massive 2019 sweep, won by fewer than 30 votes. Legal activist Tim Anderson is challenging her as the Republican.<\/p>\n<p>Guy has had the third most lucrative fundraising effort of any House candidate in 2021, trouncing Anderson\u2019s effort at over $2 million. Anderson has just over $727,000.<\/p>\n<p>Guy\u2019s 2019 margin of victory in 2019 was only 0.2 points, and Biden won the district by 15.1 points in 2020. While VPAP gives her a 0.6 point advantage this time, CNalysis rates this race as a \u201ctoss-up,\u201d and the Hampton Roads Black Caucus\u2019s endorsement of Youngkin could play a major role down ballot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em><strong>Trends Heading Into Election Day:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Despite the fact that Virginia has been trending blue for the past several election cycles, culminating in a massive sweep of the Virginia House of Delegates in 2019 and a ten-point victory for Biden in 2020, many factors indicate the House is once again up for grabs.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats have a massive fundraising advantage over Republicans, as well as the benefit of incumbency going into Tuesday. However, money does not appear to be as determinative as it has been in the past. With Biden\u2019s approval rating in the Commonwealth plummeting and contentious education issues serving as the undercurrent for Republican enthusiasm, the control of the House may shift hands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With Virginia\u2019s statewide election coming to a close Tuesday and the ever-tightening governor\u2019s race between former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin being considered a national bellwether &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":179,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-950902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/950902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/179"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=950902"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/950902\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=950902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=950902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=950902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}