U.S. Sen. Mark Warner speaks to Virginians at his re-election celebration in Alexandria on Nov. 3, 2026. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)
By Markus Schmidt
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., won a fourth term in Tuesday’s midterm elections, defeating Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa, a retired U.S. Army major general, 60% to 40%, with 3.1 million votes cast by 11 p.m., according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.
Voters also approved three constitutional amendments protecting reproductive rights, guaranteeing marriage equality and automatically restoring voting rights after incarceration.
At a Virginians For Reproductive Freedom victory party in Richmond, Chrisi West smiles shortly after voters approved an amendment to enshrine reproductive rights into the state’s Constitution. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)
By Charlotte Rene Woods
As Democrats nationwide and in Virginia flipped partisan control of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, three civil rights-based state constitutional amendments prevailed across party lines.
The statewide ballot referendums asked voters if they wanted to enshrine reproductive rights, same-sex marriage protections and voting rights restoration for formerly incarcerated people into Virginia’s Constitution. The answer was a resounding “yes,” with roughly 60% of voters backing each amendment.
The reproductive rights amendment garnered over 62% of voters’ approval, outperforming the margin of Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner’s statewide win by over 12,000 votes —- and signaling GOP and independent voters also backed the referendum.
Dominion Energy offices in Richmond, Va. (Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for the Virginia Mercury)
By Shannon Heckt
Public hearings in the case to decide the fate of the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and Florida-based NextEra Energy begin this week at the State Corporation Commission. The $67 billion all-stock deal would create the largest regulated utility in the world.
In the months preceding the hearings, scores of lawmakers, consumer advocates and citizens have strongly opposed the proposal, with leaders at the top level of state government pushing for more time to review the case.
By Nathaniel Cline
On Election Day, out of 47 Virginia localities, about 30% authorized their governments to collect a 1% sales tax to address rising school construction costs, while about 70% did not.
In June, state lawmakers authorized localities, pending voter support, to raise revenue for school construction and modernization with a 1% sales tax. The state estimates over 1000 school buildings are more than 50 years old, and would take $25 billion to rebuild or improve.
ICYMI
GOP lawmaker seeks Senate investigation, possible expulsion of Sen. Louise Lucas | By Markus Schmidt
Virginians protect gay marriage, voting rights and reproductive rights in state Constitution | By Charlotte Rene Woods
In Virginia and beyond, Democratic candidates increasingly embrace Medicare for All | By Charlotte Rene Woods
Spanberger saw a path to four House flips. Democrats have won two. | By Markus Schmidt
COMMENTARY: Survey finds fear, desire for reset in Washington. Will Trump accept the results? | By Roger Chesley
COMMENTARY: In this year’s midterms, the rest of the country learned what Virginia has known for a while | By Bob Lewis
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