Politics

Unless late-arriving ballots change the outcome in the Obenshain-Franklin race, Republicans will control all but one seat in Southwest and Southside. This comes as Democrats are about to be in the majority in the legislature again.

Republican Chris Obenshain holds a 943-vote lead but the campaign for Democrat Lily Franklin believes about 2,000 votes have yet to be accounted for.

The Democratic victories in both chambers deny Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin a legislative trifecta that would have allowed him to promptly enact his policy agenda. Tuesday’s results also throw into question Youngkin’s presidential aspirations.

Fariss, who had missed the filing deadline for the GOP nomination, ran as an independent. He was charged earlier this year with two felonies related to an alleged hit-and-run that injured a woman he was seeing romantically.

The 41st District, which has no incumbent, covers most of Montgomery County, except for Christiansburg, and parts of western Roanoke County.

The Republican’s victory means that Democrats will no longer have a state senator from west of the Blue Ridge.

Del. Sam Rasoul has condemned violence against civilians on both sides, but it was his tweet blaming Israel for an explosion at a Gaza hospital that left hundreds dead that sparked controversy online. He walks a fine line with the Democratic Party’s pro-Israel stance, political analysts say.

A well-known Republican couple in Montgomery County has purchased campaign signs supporting nine local candidates. The signs say they were funded by a group called Citizens for Local Government, but no PAC by that name is registered in the state.

The Virginia Women’s Municipal Leadership Institute recently graduated its second cohort, drawn from women in local government across the state.

Councilman Marty Misjuns, who took office in January, is at the center of controversies that have split the Republican majority on the council.