Democrat Shannon Taylor flips Virginia's 1st Congressional District
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Congresswoman-elect Shannon Taylor pictured in Henrico on Oct. 25. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Shannon Taylor defeats longtime Republican Rep. Rob Wittman in Virginia's 1st Congressional District, per the AP, which called the race around noon Thursday.
Why it matters: Taylor's victory marks a Democratic breakthrough in a district Republicans have held for nearly 50 years — and helps solidify Democrats' control of the U.S. House.
State of play: Taylor, the commonwealth's attorney for Henrico, won with 51% of the vote, AP reports, unseating the longtime Republican representative.
- Wittman has represented the district since 2007 and won reelection in 2024 by nearly 13 percentage points, per the Virginia Public Access Project.
- The 1st District includes parts of Henrico and Chesterfield, all of Hanover and stretches east to the Chesapeake Bay. Republicans have held the seat since 1977, per VPM.
Meanwhile: In the 5th District, Republican incumbent John McGuire defeated Democrat and former congressman Tom Perriello and independent Cooke Harvey, per AP, which called the race seconds after the 1st.
- McGuire won 50% of the vote to Perriello's 48% in the district that includes Goochland, Powhatan and parts of Hanover, with all precincts reporting.
The margins in both races don't include provisional or mailed absentee ballots received after Election Day.
- The deadline for election officials to receive those ballots is Friday at noon.
Catch up quick: 4th District Democratic incumbent Rep. Jennifer McClellan easily held off challenges from Republican Robert Murray Jr. and independent Joan Bell, per AP.
- McClellan, whose district includes Richmond and parts of Henrico, Chesterfield and the Tri-Cities, won with 72% of the vote, per the latest count from the Virginia Department of Elections.
Zoom out: In another closely watched race, a rematch, former Rep. Elaine Luria unseated Republican incumbent Jen Kiggans in the 2nd District, per AP, flipping the seat for Democrats.
- Virginia Democrats entered the midterms holding six seats to Republicans' five, after an unsuccessful push to redraw the state's congressional map to give Democrats an advantage in 10 districts.
- Now, Democrats will control eight of Virginia's 11 congressional seats next year, after flipping two Republican-held districts Tuesday.
What's next: The newly elected members of Congress will take office in January.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to add the results of Virginia's 1st and 5th District races.