Democrat Mike Jones’ Tuesday victory means the Virginia Senate will remain blue. That’s another win for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) as it aims for Midterm gains in state legislatures. Jones will replace former Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, who won election as Lieutenant Governor as part of a Democratic sweep of statewide races in November.
“Following sweeping wins in the lieutenant governor’s race and in the House of Delegates, the DLCC starts 2026 by successfully defending the narrow Democratic majority in the Virginia Senate,” DLCC President Heather Williams said.
Jones won 11,621 votes, or 69.84% of the vote, to Republican John Thomas’ 4,997, according to unofficial final results.
“I want to thank all the voters of SD 15 for helping us secure this victory,” Jones posted on X. “I look forward to serving you and fighting for the kitchen table issues that so many of you expressed on the Campaign trail.”
While the victory proved lop-sided, the stakes in the race were high, considering Democrats only enjoy a 22-20 edge on Republicans in the chamber. A victory for Thomas would have tied the chamber.
Democrats also retained party hold on House District 77, a safe blue seat, on Tuesday evening. Charles Schmidt earned 5,727 votes to Republican Richard Stonage’s 1,476. Jones previously held the seat but had to resign to run for Senate.
In November, the DLCC cheered the election of the largest Democratic majority in the Virginia House since 1989. That came after the DLCC invested $2 million in the state.
With Gov. Abigail Spanberger flipping the Governor’s mansion back to Democratic control in November, that means Democrats now hold total control of state government in the Old Dominion.
“This win cements a governing trifecta poised to deliver for working families, following Virginians’ clear mandate for Democratic leadership in 2025,” Williams said. “Winning races that decide hard-fought majorities is what the DLCC does best, and majority-deciding special elections in Minnesota, Michigan and Pennsylvania are up next.”
This is the first time a Democratic Governor in Virginia has started a first year in office when Democrats controlled both chambers of the Legislature in nearly 40 years.
