By Sen. Todd Pillion
This week, Virginians proved to the nation that the Old Dominion is not a “blue state”. Tired of the Democrat monopoly in Richmond, voters all across the Commonwealth turned out in droves to mandate change in Richmond.
That mandate also is reverberating in shockwaves across the country. As VP Kamala Harris said while stumping before the election, “Virginia will determine what happens in 2022, 2024, and on”. While she may be eating her words now, she was right. That is why we cannot let up. We must keep up the momentum, energy, and hard work that initiated this red wave.
Glenn Youngkin, Winsome Sears, and Jason Miyares led a Republican sweep that also positions Republicans to retake control of the House of Delegates in January. Democrats will maintain a narrow majority in the state Senate, where elections won’t be held until 2023.
What does this mean? Despite the Republican sweep, we will have divided government in Richmond beginning in January 2022. As a result, the Senate will play a significant role in determining what legislation passes and what does not.
While I am optimistic about our ability to find common ground and work together, there also will be stark contrasts and tension between the priorities of the Senate Democratic majority and House Republican majority. Expect Senate Democrats to act as a “blue wall” to the “red wave” on certain issues.
That is why our important work continues.
As we celebrate this historic victory with the most dynamic statewide ticket in Virginia history, now begins the real work of not only maintaining what we have built, but building it bigger, better, and stronger. “2022, 2024, and so on” are right around the corner.
