Check back with WTOP for live results of Virginia’s special elections.
Voters who headed to the polls on Tuesday for a special election in parts of Northern Virginia have filled two open seats in the state’s General Assembly.
In District 11, Democrat Gretchen Bulova won with over 68% of the vote as of 7:30 p.m. In District 23, Democrat Margaret Franklin won with over 77% of the vote, according to the Associated Press.
Polls closed at 7 p.m. for in-person voting Tuesday in Districts 11 and 23, which include parts of Fairfax, Prince William and Stafford counties, as well as Fairfax City.
Tuesday’s special election was triggered when Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger tapped two current members of the Virginia House of Delegates to join her cabinet.
Del. David Bulova, who represents Fairfax City and portions of Fairfax County, has been asked to lead as Virginia’s next secretary of natural and historic resources.
In nearby District 23, Del. Candi Mundon King is resigning to serve as the secretary of the commonwealth. Her constituents live in parts of Prince William and Stafford counties.
District 11
Voters saw two candidates on the ballot in District 11: Democrat Gretchen Bulova and Republican Adam Wise.
Both candidates hold some name recognition in Fairfax County and Fairfax City.
Gretchen Bulova is married to the longtime Del. David Bulova, who is resigning from his position in the house to serve alongside Spanberger.
Wise challenged the incumbent for his seat in 2025, but lost to David Bulova.
The Republican nominee, Wise, is a native of Fairfax who works as a firearms instructor and self-defense teacher. On his website, he promoted a campaign slogan that seems to advocate for restricting the government’s influence on Virginians, writing “the government which governs least, governs best.”
Gretchen Bulova serves as the director of the Office of Historic Alexandria, overseeing museums as well as other research-centered programs, according to her website. She’s also the chair of the Fairfax County 250th Commission.
Affordability was the top issue of Gretchen Bulova’s campaign, with the Democrat specifically listing priorities of access to affordable housing, child care, electricity and health care on her website.
District 23
Democrat Margaret Franklin ran against Republican Verndell Robinson for the open seat in District 23.
Franklin represents the Woodbridge District on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. She was first elected to the board in 2019.
With hopes of maintaining the seat for Democrats, Franklin has campaigned on issues such as affordable housing, health care and the economy.
Robinson is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and currently works as a real estate agent, according to a local GOP committee.
Robinson has been a critic of certain data center developments and pressed for more affordable housing.
More special elections ahead
Tuesday marks one of several special elections to fill open seats in Virginia’s General Assembly, including a second contest in another part of Fairfax County next week. Voters will head to the polls in District 17 on Jan. 20.
There’s another upcoming special election coming up in February to replace State Sen. Adam Ebbin, who represents Alexandria City, and parts of Arlington and Fairfax counties.
The Democratic committees in Senate District 39 are holding a firehouse primary Tuesday to name a nominee. Voters can find polling places for the party’s primary in Alexandria City, as well as Arlington and Fairfax counties. Whoever wins the nomination will run in a special election on Feb. 10.
All the exiting lawmakers are Democrats and their districts are considered to be reliably blue, according to ratings from the Virginia Public Access Project.
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