The votes are in, and the 2026 midterms are (mostly) complete! Democrats won both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the largest victory by either party in 50 years, with the war in Iran, economic concerns, and the President’s unpopularity widely cited as the drivers. Ballot counting continues in California, Alaska, and others, and Democrats are hopeful that a final Senate seat in Mississippi flips their way.

Here in Virginia, Sen. Mark Warner handily won reelection, and all three constitutional amendments passed, addressing reproductive rights, same-sex marriage, and the automatic restoration of rights. Of the Commonwealth’s 11 congressional districts, three were hotly contested: VA-01, VA-02, and VA-05. (Those of you in Hampton Roads and Richmond can attest with the sheer volume of television ads, text messages, and direct mail!)

The other eight congressional races saw expected results, with each incumbent successfully winning reelection:

Even a close race in either district would be notable; in most years, neither would be on the political radar. On the other hand, Virginia’s traditional role as a national bellwether failed to materialize this cycle. If you had looked at the results coming in from around the country then turned back to Virginia, the margin in VA-01 and the result in VA-05 were outliers.

Across the Potomac, in the House of Representatives, Democrats are on track to hold at least a 50-seat majority, flipping dozens of seats while Republicans (as of this writing) have yet to flip a single district. In the Senate, Democrats won every battleground race, from long sought seats in Maine and North Carolina to traditionally Republican states like Kansas and South Carolina. The results in D.C. will reverberate for the next two years, bringing back divided government with a Democratic Congress and a Republican Executive Branch.

What this means for Virginia remains to be seen. As REALTORS^® know all too well, Virginia is for election lovers! We have another election season kicking off (seriously, some statehouse primary challengers have already announced!). In 2027, all 140 seats in the General Assembly will be up for election, 100 in the House of Delegates and 40 in the State Senate. With Democrats’ national wins, the Richmond rumor mill is gearing up into overdrive discussing the number of incumbents who may be facing a primary challenge in June.

This is where YOU come in. It is more important now than ever to register to Vote, Act, and Invest. REALTORS^® in Virginia have more than 90% voter registration, a staggering statistic for Virginia’s largest trade association. Remember, REALTORS^®, your vote is your voice and when we work together to elect REALTOR^® champions, we all WIN!

If you have any questions about the 2026 elections, please contact your VAR Government Relations team by emailing advocacy@virginiarealtors.org