If the 2016 Presidential election was a stunning performance, the 2017 Virginia election was a fitting encore. Continuing an eight-year sweep of statewide offices Virginians have elected Democrats Ralph Northam as Governor, Justin Fairfax as Lieutenant Governor and reelected Mark Herring Attorney General to each serve four-year terms. While most polling showed the Democrats with leads in all three statewide races, the margin of victory for Ralph Northam (8%) was more significant than many predicted. Governor-elect Northam is now assembling his transition team and is in the process of making cabinet appointments, which should be completed by the first week in January when he is inaugurated as Virginia’s 73rd Governor.
While the statewide races have received most of the attention in Virginia, it is the House of Delegates elections that have stunned many in the political community. Over the past 18 years, Republicans have steadily built their majority in the House controlling 66 of 100 seats prior to this year’s election. In an effort to capitalize on sheer numbers (Clinton won Virginia in 2016) and an anti-Trump sentiment Democrats fielded candidates against 54 of the 66 House Republicans. While polling data is not as robust for individual House races, most in the polling and political community estimated Republican would lose anywhere from three to maybe eight seats. However, after final election certifications, the Democrats had picked up 15 seats in the House, shifting the balance to a slim Republican majority at 51-49.
While the election results in the House were shocking, the story is not over. There are three House elections undergoing a recount, with one Republican declared the victor by ten votes. While the recounts should be completed before the end of the year, many expect the Democrats or Republicans to challenge the results in court leaving control of the House of Delegates in question. What we do know is that each party is going to utilize every tool possible to declare a majority once session convenes on January 10th.
What does this mean for the design professional community? As we look at the loss of key legislators, the influx of new members, and changes on key committees we will need to take the time to educate new members on the importance of qualifications based-selection and the need for integrity in the Commonwealth’s procurement system. At its core, the advocacy mission of the design professional community is to educate. We work to educate legislators on the importance of quality in the design and engineering of public facilities and the positive impact quality design can have on long-term cost and public health, safety, and welfare.
For the most current election results and analysis, check the State Board of Elections website, which carries the official results: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/resultsreports/election-results/.
Another helpful website that includes all election results with graphics is the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP): https://www.vpap.org/elections/.