The leaves are not the only thing changing in Virginia this fall -- yesterday's election ushered in a Democratic majority in the Virginia Senate for the first time in 12 years. Republicans, however, maintained control of the House of Delegates for the fifth straight general election.
Democrats picked up four seats in the Virginia Senate, two in the Hampton Roads area and two in Northern Virginia splitting the Senate 21-19 in favor of the Democrats.
According to Politics Prof. Larry J. Sabato, the race between incumbent Republican Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II, the tentative senator-elect for the 37th District, and Democratic challenger Janet S. Oleszek is awaiting a recount. Just 91 votes separate the candidates in the initial count.
Sabato cited two significant effects of both state and national importance resulting from the new Virginia Senate majority.
"First this will help [Gov. Tim] Kaine to do well in the second half of his term ... he will be able to play the Senate off of the House [of Delegates]," Sabato said.
Perhaps more importantly, according to Sabato, this Senate will be in charge of governmental redistricting in 2011.
"This effectively secures the Democrats a seat at the table for redistricting after the census in 2010," he said, noting that this will not only affect state politics, but will also redraw the district lines for the U.S. House of Representatives.
The last time the district lines were redrawn was in 2001, when Republicans had absolute control of the plan, Sabato said.
"That's why it's remarkable that they [the Democrats] won the Senate -- they won under lines drawn by the Republicans to guarantee a Republican win," Sabato said.
Senator-elect John Miller, D-Poquoson City, noted that this shift in partisan control has the potential to redirect policy.
"We [Democrats] had a great chance today ... a great shot to make a change in Virginia," he said. "There is absolutely no other feeling like this in the world."
Miller said he partially owes his narrow defeat of Republican Patricia "Tricia" Stall to her pledge calling for the end of government-supported public education.
"Education has been my top priority in this campaign ... making sure children are ready to learn when they reach kindergarten, and every child in third grade should be at the third-grade reading level," Miller said.
Republicans, however, also saw wins in tight races.
"These have been the most tiring two hours of the entire race, just looking at the screen waiting for the results," newly elected Sen. Ralph Smith, R-Roanoke, said, referring to his slim victory of 50.8 percent to 49 percent against Democratic competitor Michael Breiner.
"This [the Democratic majority] gives the incentive to Republicans to provide true leadership, because these next two years will be a test for the next race," Smith said.
Smith said during his term in the Senate, he will seek infrastructure improvements while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
"I want to provide more basic services without raising your taxes," Smith said, noting the need for work on Interstate 51.
The slim margins of victories achieved by both Democrats and Republicans may be related to low voter turnout levels, which Sabato called "miserable." Others, however, were not so surprised.
"We knew turnout was going to be low from the beginning, but at 25, 26 percent -- we were not surprised," Miller said.
Sabato expressed disappointment in the low turnouts in certain districts, noting that in Virginia, "you can win a seat in the House of Delegates with 4,800 votes ... I've seen student elections with more votes"
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