Across America, voter turnout for the 2018 midterms was record breaking. According to the United States Election Project, over 47% of the voting-eligible population cast ballots on Tuesday. This is the highest midterm turnout since 1966.

What did this impressive showing mean for REALTORS^®? Candidates supported by the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR) for being champions for the real estate industry—regardless of party affiliation—scored major wins across the country.

According to NAR, these wins “promise to benefit the real estate industry’s goals of strong communities and healthy residential and commercial property markets.”

Nationally, these wins included Andy Barr (R) of the 6th district of Kentucky, Joyce Beatty (D) of the 3rd district of Ohio, Sean Duffy (R) of the 7th district of Wisconsin, and Pete Aguilar (D) of the 31st district of California.

Here in Virginia, the following candidates supported by NAR came out victorious:

US Senate – Senator Tim Kaine (D)

1^st District – Congressman Rob Wittman (R)

3^rd District – Congressman Bobby Scott (D) (ran unopposed)

4^th District – Congressman Donald McEachin (D)

6^th District – Ben Cline (R)

8^th District – Congressman Don Beyer (D)

9^th District – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R)

11^th District – Congressman Gerry Connolly (D)

Additionally, both amendments to the Virginia Constitution were passed. Both initiatives were supported by Virginia REALTORS^® as being positive for the industry as well as the community. The first now authorizes local property tax exemptions for flood abatement, mitigation, or resiliency. The second amendment gets rid of a restriction on tax exemptions for the surviving spouses of disabled veterans.