In Stunning Upset, Virginia Republicans End Democrat Control of House of Delegates
Overcome 2:1 Spending Disadvantage to Gain Seats in House for First Time Since 2013 Election
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Virginia Republicans tonight flipped at least five seats in the House of Delegates. The stunning upset, which Republicans achieved despite being outspent by 2:1, was the first election in which Republicans netted House seats in Virginia since 2013. House Democrats had netted a total of 22 seats over the last three election cycles.
The Republican State Leadership Committee and its affiliated groups led this historic effort by investing more in Virginia House races than any other Republican organization. These resources went to recruiting, training, and supporting strong candidates in battleground districts across the commonwealth, as well as multiple, innovative paid media campaigns run directly by RSLC PAC.
“Tonight’s historic upset is proof that Virginians are ready to move closer to an optimistic vision for the commonwealth marked by the protection of individual freedoms and liberties, where parents are empowered, where businesses are allowed to do what’s best for them and their employees, and the safety of communities is a priority number one,” said RSLC President Dee Duncan. “This success was a culmination of months of hard work for the RSLC, as we supported the right candidates, developed the right messages, and executed the right strategies to overcome a 2:1 spending disadvantage driven by national liberals like Barack Obama, Eric Holder, Nancy Pelosi, and Stacey Abrams. Congratulations to Republican Leader Todd Gilbert and all our partners in the Old Dominion on this fantastic achievement. While we are proud of our efforts in Virginia, our remarkable success tonight will inherently motivate national Democrats to attack our razor-thin majorities across the country in 2022, and we know we will have to work harder than ever to protect them.”
Tonight’s results are a devastating blow to Virginia Democrats and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC). The DLCC said holding their Democrat majority in the Virginia was its “number one priority this year” and that they would “do whatever it takes to keep it blue.” Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn even told the Associated Press less than a week before the election, “the majority is safe” and WRIC-Richmond “it won’t be as close as people think on Election Day.”
RSLC PAC began its paid media efforts in Virginia in June with a digital ad campaign in 13 target districts highlighting how Richmond liberals were no different than the Democrats controlling Washington, D.C. The PAC then ramped up its spending in the state with hard hitting television advertising against 10 candidates on August 17. These were the first television ads run in Virginia’s House of Delegates races and even the Washington Post at the time noted how the spots came “unusually early in the district election cycle.”
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