Note: This post was written as part of DDHQ’s effort to expand election coverage through the use of AI combined with our proprietary election data. This process is separate from our results and race calls which are still run exclusively by our class leading human team.
Virginia House District 22
Virginia’s 22nd House District reported a competitive election on November 7, 2023. The race did not feature an incumbent, leaving the field open for new faces. Two candidates emerged: Ian Lovejoy, representing the Republicans, and Travis Nembhard, for the Democrats. The district is a key constituency placed entirely within Prince William County, largely marked by its suburban nature and the significant presence of white citizens, making up 60.6% of the demographic. Racial minorities such as the Hispanics, Blacks, and Asians, make up 12.7%, 11.9%, and 13.2% of the population, respectively.
The 22nd House District was tightly contested. The District leaned Democratic for a 2020 Presidential election, with Joe Biden securing a margin of 5.7%. However, it swung back towards Republicans in the 2021 gubernatorial polls where Glenn Youngkin prevailed with a 5.4% advantage. These changes boded an interesting contest for the House of Delegates. Before the elections, the House of Delegates held 48 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and one vacant seat.
After a tensely fought campaign, the 22nd House District of Virginia chose Ian Lovejoy as its representative. The Republican candidate emerged victorious by a margin of 4.6%, indicating a closely contested race. Despite this important win for Republicans, Democrats claimed a 51-49 majority in the
Virginia House District 30
Virginia’s 30th House District held an election on November 7, 2023. The seat was open, with no incumbent running for re-election. The candidates were Geary Higgins for the Republicans and Robert Banse Jr. for the Democrats. Prior to this election, the Virginia House of Delegates was nearly evenly divided – 48 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and 1 vacancy.
This district is predominantly white (75.1%), with some substantial minority populations including Hispanic (7.2%), Asian (10.1%), and Black (5.5%) residents. The character of the district is mainly suburban or exurban, spanning parts of Loudoun and Fauquier counties. In earlier elections, Joe Biden clinched the presidential vote in 2020, albeit by a thin margin (0.7%). However, in 2021, the gubernatorial round went to Republican Glenn Youngkin, with a solid 13.5% lead.
In the 2023 election, Republican candidate Geary Higgins emerged victorious, winning by a margin of 6.8%. Both Loudoun and Fauquier counties gave similar margins to Higgins, although Louduon was the more competitive of the two. Statewide, Democrats won a 51-49 majority in the House of Delegates.
Virginia House District 41
Virginia’s 41st House District saw fervent competition for a vacant seat this November 7th. No incumbent put up for re-election, leaving an open seat for aspirants. Contenders in this political race were Republican J. Christian Obenshain and Democrat Lily Franklin. The winner serves a four-year term. The district, spanning parts of Roanoke County and Montgomery County, reflects a primarily white demographic at 79%, followed by Asian (11.3%), Black (4.1%), Hispanic (4%), and Native American (1.4%) populations.
This open-seat contest occurred against a backdrop of recent close electoral margins and Republican successes. The 2020 Presidential election favored Republican Donald Trump by a slim 0.8% margin. In the following year, the gubernatorial seat was also secured by a Republican- Glenn Youngkin, who pulled away with a wider margin of 11%. Prior to the 2023 election, the political balance in the House of Delegates leaned slightly toward Republicans, with a 48-46 split complemented by one vacancy.
Republican J. Christian Obenshain emerged victorious in the 2023 competition for Virginia’s 41st House District, albeit with a minuscule edge of 0.7% over Democrat Lily Franklin. Obenshain’s triumph was more pronounced in Roanoke County than Franklin’s lead in Montgomery County. Nevertheless, this individual win didn’t upset the overall House composition, as Democrats secured a 51-49 majority in the House of Delegates..
Virginia House District 57
On November 7th, 2023, the 57th House District of Virginia held an election. This district, populated mostly by white (64.6%) and Asian (19.7%) citizens, spans both Henrico and Goochland Counties in suburban Richmond. The race featured Republican candidate David Owen squaring off against Democratic contender Susanna Gibson. With no incumbent in the running, the seat prepared for a new Delegate.
Delving into recent political history offers an interesting context. The 2020 Presidential election saw Joe Biden, a Democrat, securing victory with a 5.4% margin. However, the 2021 gubernatorial race ended with Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, winning by a 3.6% margin. Therefore, the district has showcased close contests between both major parties. Prior to the election, the House of Delegates was composed of 48 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and 1 vacancy.
The 2023 election ended with Republican David Owen as the winner with a 2% margin. A critical factor was Owen’s victory in Goochland County, where he led by nearly a 2:1 margin. This significant lead allowed him to neutralize Gibson’s four-point advantage in Henrico, the more populous county of the two. Post-election, the House of Delegates stands with 51 Democrats and 49 Republicans.
Virginia House District 58
The 2023 Virginia 58th House District Election took place on November 7th. Incumbent Rodney Willett of the Democratic Party was up for re-election. His opponent was Riley Shaia from the Republican Party. Before the election, the House of Delegates had 48 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and 1 vacancy.
This district strongly leans towards the Democratic party. In the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden, the Democrat candidate won the district by a 16.1% margin. The Democrat candidate also emerged victorious in the 2021 gubernatorial election with Terry McAuliffe winning by a 4% margin. The 58th House district is predominantly white and located in suburban Henrico County.
Democrat Rodney Willett maintained his seat as delegate, winning the 2023 election by a 9% margin. This victory played a role in shifting the House of Delegates balance, which resulted in the election of 51 Democrats and 49 Republicans.
Virginia House District 65
Virginia’s 65th House District election occurred on November 7, 2023, without incumbent Tara Durant (Republican) stepping forward for re-election. Up for consideration were Joshua Cole of the Democratic party, and Lee Peters III, running as a Republican. The 65th district’s makeup includes Fredericksburg along with neighboring Spotsylvania and Stafford counties. Prior to the election, the House of Delegates was composed of 48 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and one vacancy.
Demographically, the 65th district is 63.1% white, 19.6% black, and 10.2% Hispanic. Virginia’s 65th House district leaned Democratic in the 2020 presidential election, with Joe Biden winning by a margin of 11.7%, but flipped Republican in the 2021 gubernatorial race where Glenn Youngkin prevailed by a 2.8% margin.
The 2023 election marked a return to the blue, with Democratic candidate Joshua Cole taking the victory and swinging the balance in the House of Delegates, where Democrats secured a 51-49 majority. Cole won by a margin of 6%, buoyed largely by solid support in Fredericksburg. Despite Lee Peters III’s relative strength in Spotsylvania and Stafford counties, the Fredericksburg votes were decisive in securing Cole’s win.
Virginia House District 71
Virginia’s 71st House District held its election on November 7, 2023. Amanda Batten, the incumbent, faced up against Jessica Anderson in the race. The battle developed in a context where the House of Delegates was composed of 48 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and 1 vacancy.
Virginia’s 71st District maintained a mixture of demographics, including 70.6% Whites, 18.9% Black community, 4.8% Hispanics, 3.8% Asians, and 2% Native Americans. Amanda Batten was the incumbent running for re-election, marking the approval of her performance by her party for an additional term. Voting patterns indicate a competitive district, with Democratic president Joe Biden earning a thin 3.2% victory margin in 2020 and Republican governor Glenn Youngkin securing a healthier 7.5% margin in 2021.
Emerging victorious was Amanda Batten, the incumbent Republican, who took the seat by a hair-thin 1.9% margin. This outcome impacted the overall breakdown of the House of Delegates, resulting in 51 Democrats and 49 Republicans. Despite Batten’s win, a shift towards a Democratic majority was clearly indicated.
Virginia House District 82
The Virginia’s 71st House District election held on November 7, 2023, saw incumbent Amanda Batten, a Republican, running for re-election against Democrat Jessica Anderson. The House of Delegates before the election consisted of 48 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and one vacancy. This office carries a term length of four years.
Virginia’s 71st House District is demographically diverse. The majority of the population is White, comprising 70.6% of residents. Other significant demographics include Black at 18.9%, Hispanic at 4.8%, Asian at 3.8% and Native American at 2.0%. The previous elections reveal a mixed political landscape. In the 2020 Presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden won with a margin of 3.2%. However, in the 2021 gubernatorial race, Republican Glenn Youngkin emerged victorious, winning by a 7.5% margin.
Amanda Batte won the 2023 election in Virginia’s 71st House District. The victory came with a narrow margin of 1.9%. This result contributed to the overall House setup, although Democrats managed to secure a majority, winning 51 seats compared to 49 for the Republicans.
Virginia House District 82
Virginia’s 84th House District voted on November 7, 2023 for their delegate. Incumbent Kim Taylor, a Republican, faced Democrat Kimberly Adams. Both parties contested fiercely for the position. The House stood with 48 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and 1 vacancy before the election.
Articulating the background, the district displayed mixed party preferences in previous elections. In the 2020 presidential race, Democratic Party’s Joe Biden outperformed his Republican contender by a decisive 10.7% margin. However, in 2021, Republican Glenn Youngkin won the gubernatorial election by 2.2%. The racial composition reveals an almost equal distribution between White (45.8%) and Black (47.6%) voters.
Eventually, Kim Taylor sealed the victory by a razor-thin margin of 0.3%. Kimberly Adams won by over 73% in Petersburg City, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide as she lost the other three counties to Taylor. The House of Delegates post-election configuration now stands at 51 Democrats and 49 Republicans.
Virginia House District 84
The 2023 election for Virginia’s 84th House District was fiercely contested. Nadarius Clark, the incumbent Democrat running for re-election, stood his ground against the Republican candidate, Michael Dillender. With a term length of 4 years, the consequences of this election were sure to have a lasting impact, especially considering the District’s current House of Delegates was nearly evenly split with 48 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and 1 vacancy.
In evaluating historical patterns, the 84th House District leans Democratic. In the 2020 Presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden won with a substantial lead of 16.4%. The following year, Terry McAuliffe, also a Democrat, took the position of gubernatorial winner by a smaller, yet significant margin of 2.6%. The demographics, with 49.3% identifying as White and 43.2% as Black, provided a diverse pool of voters for the candidates.
In the end, the 2023 election victor was Nadarius Clark, retaining his position with a 6.2% margin. This election result was pivotal, helping to tilt the balance of the House towards Democrats. The post-election House result has 51 Democrats and 49 Republicans.
Virginia House District 86
The 2023 election in Virginia’s 86th House District witnessed a significant political battle. On November 7th, incumbent A.C. Cordoza, a Republican, sought re-election for another 4-year term. He was challenged by Jarris Taylor Jr., a Democrat. Notably, the current House of Delegates situation consisted of 48 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and one vacancy prior to this election.
The political trends in the 86th District can be gleaned from history. In the 2020 Presidential election, the district favored Democratic candidate Joe Biden by a margin of 3.2%. However, the following year saw a change in political taste, with Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, winning the gubernatorial race by an 8.9% margin. The district’s is predominantly white (61.5%),with a smaller Black (25.6%) minority.
When votes were counted in 2023, A.C. Cordoza emerged victorious, extending his term. The winning margin was a sizable 12.8%, marking a decisive win for the Republican incumbent. However, Democrats were able to secure a narrow 51-49 majority in the House of Delegates.
Virginia House District 89
The 2023 Virginia’s 89th House District election was held on November 7. With a recent trail of both Democrat and Republican victories, the race was competitive. Baxter Ennis represented the Republican Party, whereas Karen Jenkins carried the Democratic banner. The House of Delegates, leading up to the election, consisted of 48 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and 1 vacancy.
Joe Biden, a Democrat, took the 2020 Presidential victory with a 2.7% margin. However, in the 2021 gubernatorial event, Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, emerged victorious with a 7.4% margin. The district, comprising portions of Chesapeake and Suffolk cities, held a 59% White and 30.7% Black demographic composition.
The 2023 election saw Baxter Ennis, a Republican, secure the victory defeating Karen Jenkins by a margin of 1.8%. Ennis won in both the Suffolk and Chesapeake portions of the district. Statewide, Democrats claimed a 51-49 majority in the House of Delegates.
Virginia House District 97
The 2023 election arrived in Virginia’s 97th House District on November 7th. The race was between incumbent Karen Greenhalgh, a Republican, and Michael Feggans, a Democrat. The previous House of Delegates held 48 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and 1 vacancy. Karen Greenhalgh sought to reimpose her influence by running for re-election in this district, located exclusively in Virginia Beach.
The demographic makeup of Virginia’s 97th House District shows a majority white population at 66.8%, followed by a significant 20.3% black population, and a smaller 7.3% Hispanic population. The 2020 presidential election saw a Democratic victory with Joe Biden winning by a margin of 12.4%. However, the 2021 gubernatorial election shifted towards the Republicans, with Glenn Youngkin winning by a margin of 2.1%.