'Virginia is officially blue.' Democrats regain control of legislature, clearing way for liberal policies
Democrats won control of Virginia's General Assembly on Tuesday, returning the party to full power over the legislature and governorship for the first time since 1993.
Democrats, who had been slightly favored to win both chambers, flipped six seats and lost none of their own in the House and took a slim majority in the Senate.
"I'm here to officially declare today, Nov. 5, 2019, that Virginia is officially blue," Gov. Ralph Northam said to supporters in Richmond.
The election wins now clear the way for Democrats to pass a wide array of liberal policies, including gun control measures, increases to the minimum wage and ratification the Equal Rights Amendment.
"It wouldn't really be an exaggeration to say that we could have the most progressive regime we've had in Virginia's government history," said J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, which provides nonpartisan analysis on elections through University of Virginia's Center for Politics.
Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason, said he expects Democrats to move aggressively on enacting their polices, but he warned against too much too soon if they want to continue to hold power.
"That could have broader implications given the national election. People will be watching to see what the Democrats do in power now that they have it," he said.
Republicans already cautioned against Democrats' new power. House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert said Democrats would pursue a "extreme agenda."
