Democrat Mike Jones defeated Republican John Thomas in Virginia’s Senate District 15. | Mikejonesva.com
Democrats have retained two seats in Virginia’s General Assembly after winning a pair of special elections by significant margins on Tuesday night.
Democratic Mike Jones defeated Republican John Thomas to win the election in the Virginia Senate District 15, a seat vacated by state Senator Ghazala Hashmi last year.
Charlie Schmidt, a community activist and former attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, defeated Republican Richard Stonage to win in House District 77, the seat Jones vacated to run for state Senate.
Jones won 69.84 percent of the vote and Schmidt won 79.39 percent, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections as of early Wednesday.
The wins mean Democrats will maintain their slim majority in the Virginia Senate and a large majority in the Virginia House of Delegates.
The victories will also further energize Democrats following a string of significant electoral wins and overperformances ahead of November’s midterm elections, including Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s successful race for Virginia governor. Democrats are hoping to reclaim control of the House and Senate in the midterms.
Tuesday’s special elections came after Hashmi was elected Virginia’s lieutenant governor in November.
Jones, who had represented House District 77 since 2020, resigned his seat in December following his win in the Democratic primary for Hashmi’s seat.
He thanked voters for backing him on Tuesday night, writing on X that he was looking forward to “fighting for the kitchen table issues that so many of you expressed on the campaign trail.”
State Senator Lamont Bagby, the chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, called the wins “crucial.”
Bagby added that the victories sent a “clear message” that when Democrats “remain laser-focused on making Virginia more affordable and a place where all can thrive, we can win and will keep winning.”
What People Are Saying
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement: “Dr. Jones’ victory tonight is yet another proof point that Democrats — who remain focused on lowering costs for families — have the momentum across the country. In election after election, voters are rejecting Donald Trump and his unaffordable, out-of-touch agenda and are instead putting their faith in Democrats who will fight for working families instead of billionaires.
“While Trump and his Republican allies continue to make life more expensive for Virginia families, Democrats will use the trifecta in the Commonwealth to grow Virginia’s economy and protect the fundamental freedoms Virginians rely on. Tonight’s election is just the beginning — as we kick off 2026, Democrats are on offense.”
Bagby said in a statement:”Senator-elect Jones has already shown what it means to lead with results, integrity, and a deep commitment to the people he serves both in his faith work and his elected positions – delivering real progress and tangible results for our community.
“Delegate-elect Schmidt brings proven leadership as an accomplished attorney and longtime community advocate who has spent his career fighting for civil rights, supporting small businesses, and standing up for environmental justice. Together, these victories send a clear message: when we remain laser-focused on making Virginia more affordable and a place where all can thrive, we can win and will keep winning.”
The Virginia GOP said in a statement: “The Republican Party of Virginia would like to thank John Thomas and Richard Stonage for their hard work and dedication as the Republican nominees for SD 15 and HD 77, respectively.
“While the results of the special elections today were not what we had worked toward, John and Richard represented their voters and our Commonwealth with integrity. We commend them for their efforts and willingness to devote themselves to public service. We remain committed to working every day to elect principled Republican candidates up and down the ballot.”
Three more special elections are set to take place later this month after Governor-elect Spanberger picked delegates representing three House districts to serve in her cabinet.
On January 13, voters will choose who will succeed delegates Candi Mundon King and David Bulova, who Spanberger tapped to serve as Virginia’s next secretary of the commonwealth and secretary of natural and historic resources.
On January 20, voters will pick who will replace Delegate Mark Sickles, who Spanberger picked to serve as finance secretary. (Newsweek)
