Washington (CNN) – Democrats are celebrating an election victory in northern Virginia.
Democratic delegate David Marsden narrowly defeated Republican Steve Hunt Tuesday in a special election to fill the state Senate seat in Fairfax County that was formerly held by Republican Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli. Marsden won by 317 votes out of more than 23,000 cast. The district had been in Republican hands for nearly two decades.
The victory comes after the GOP made major gains in Virginia in November's elections, highlighted by Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell's trouncing of Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds to win back the governor's office for the first time in 8 years.
Republicans did win the other state senate special election Tuesday, holding onto a seat in Virginia Beach.
As of next week, the GOP will control the state's top three positions and will hold a larger majority in the assembly. Thanks to their victory in Fairfax County, the Democrats will now have a 22 to 18 seat advantage in the state Senate.
The Democratic National Committee sent out an e-mail Wednesday morning touting the election victory in northern Virginia.
Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn
From CNN Politics
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Guess the backlash against the Democrates passed by, right. It's a lie dreamed up by the GOP and force fed to the US public.
I hope McDonnell runs Virginia so darn far in the ground like the rest of the republicans have done, that they come begging to a democrat and I wouldn't accept them unless they crawled on their knees, to try to get them out...That's what has happened when ever a republican was elected. Don't take my word for it go back and check...every single solitary republican governor of Virginia has screwed it over so bad. Then comes the next election Virginia wakes up elects a democrat. After they straighten it up the bunch of stupid butt common Virginians elect another republican.
My roots are in Virginia my ancestors settled there, I AM SO GLAD THEY MOVED ON TO OTHER STATES. I would hate for them to still be mired in the mud called Virginia.
WOW WEE !!!!!!!
So....you mean.....The Dem won in northern Virginia and Repub won in Norfolk. STOOOOP THE PRESSES !!!!!
This is worth a sensationalized story. Great reporting CNN. Keep us posted.
CNN is now covering a state senate election?
Hopefully this person is an honest individual–looking out for what is best for his district and not just the democratic party.
Give them time - the Republicans will find a way to lose their edge in the assembly also.
Democrats are celebrating becuse they won a special election in Va that no one outside of the state even heard about?
This is what the truth is the the Democrats can't spin:
"As of next week, the GOP will control the state's top three positions and will hold a larger majority in the assembly."
That right there is the "Big" news. Nice try though Democrats......
zzzzz. This is a non-issue. The deomocrat outspend the republican 10 to 1 and still barely won. The seat will bounce back to the reublicans in 2 short years.
It's the STATE senate!
SO....... even though the GOP is already counting their victories in 2010, an election is held in a district of Virginia that has been "in Republican hands for nearly two decades." Well now, hmmmmm...... like I say, "don't count your chickens, GOP, before they hatch."
Based on the way Republicans reacted to "local elections" in Apri, this must mean that "the country" backs Obama and think the country is on the right track.
Too bad Republicans.
Of course for us sane people, it means a Democrat beat a Republican in a local election and is a reflection of these two candidates and thier district.
When will people understand that the brand called GOP is in the toilet? and its trying to revive it self through the no brainer tea baggers!!
Congrats dems. Does this actually take the sting out of losing the governorship? Somehow I think not!
Naturally Michael Steele will claim this as a victory for Republicans. Interesting that the right wing keeps claiming that they will be in the majority in 2010. The facts don't fit their view – but then again when has that ever stopped them.
Recently in VA on Christmas vacation, in a Mall parking lot, saw a bumper sticker that, for me, represents the final nail in the Republican coffin: "Rednecks For Obama", in red, white and blue. Nothing more need be said. – ever.
All part of that republicon tidal wave coming in November....
Well let's be FAIR and BALANCED alaFOX SPEWS and cliamclearly that this represents a clear voter rebellionthe the REPUBLICAN PARTY.
Afterall FOX... that IS how you see all elections,right!? (Idiots)
RNC, GOP and Teabaggers overheard saying – "We got the dems on the run now boys!"
These people are so out of touch with reality that they think this election belongs in the "Win" column for rethuglicons because they only lost it by only 317 votes.
Now that's the new "Palin logic, lies and spin" the rethugs have adopted for their 2010 political agenda platform – "you betcha"...
Let's hear some of that republican bravado now.
"The district had been in Republican hands for nearly two decades."
Dave has been an effective delegate and has served his constituents well. I expect he will do a fine job in the state senate. Well done Dave!