Short diary on a little election that was decided by the winner's family but it's a huge setback to knuckle-draggers who dreamed of crippling Virginia's progressive new Governor.
Here's a link to the local breakdown if you want to see which VA counties in Senate District 6 wanted to protect transvaginal ultrasound and who wants a new Blue Virginia.
When Ralph Northam, a Democratic State Senator won his bid to become lieutenant governor in a historic sweep of statewide races it suddenly put control of the State Senate in play. See they had a tie which meant the Lt Guv would now be the deciding vote.
If Republican Wayne Coleman, was to win Reds would control both state houses and be able to completely neuter any initiatives by incoming Governor Terry McAuliffe. Democrat Lynwood Lewis on the other hand would hand the Senate control to Democrats making November's rout all the more impactful. Lots of money went into this race, about a $Million between both candidates. Lewis got a lot of help from Planned Parenthood who understood what was at stake.
In the end, this little, low turnout, friends and family battle was decided by the margin of one large extended family... 22 votes. Fortunately for all Virginians, those 22 voted for the good guy. Surely this will be contested (aren't they all these days?) but eventually Lynwood Lewis will be VA's newest Senator and VA will be the USA's newest Blue State.
(UPDATE) Not the only good result on the piedmont. Sam Rasoul put a beating on former Roanoke City Sheriff Octavia Johnson (R), 70 percent to 30 percent.
House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) poured more than $100,000 into Johnson’s campaign from his political action committee, Dominion Leadership Trust. Although the Hizzie is solidly GOP the Reds saw this as a makable putt that would staunch their losing ways.