Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel on Wednesday hailed a "clean sweep" in Virginia's elections, where Tuesday's gubernatorial election had been viewed as a referendum on Joe Biden’s presidency.
"The red wave is here, and things are only going to get worse for Joe Biden and Democrats come November 2022," she said in a statement.
"On top of a clean sweep of the three statewide offices in Virginia, Republicans have retaken the House of Delegates in another sound rejection of Biden and Democrat’s failed agenda," she said, referring to votes for the governor, lieutenant governor, and state's attorney general.
GOP candidate Glenn Youngkin was elected as Virginia's next governor in a stunning upset, with former Democrat Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe conceding the race.
Marine veteran and Republican Winsome Sears is tipped to become the first black female lieutenant governor, CNN projected Wednesday, and the GOP candidate for Virginia attorney general, Cuban American Jason Miyares, was leading and claimed victory.
Republicans also appeared to be closing in on the state's House of Delegates, the Associated Press reported.
Democrats held a 55-45 majority heading into Tuesday’s election, but Republicans waged an aggressive campaign to flip up to 13 seats held by Democrats whom they considered vulnerable. The GOP needs to flip at least six seats to regain the majority the party lost in 2019, the AP reported.
House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert issued a statement early Wednesday stating Republicans have "clearly won six seats previously held by Democrats," giving Republicans the majority, the AP reported.
Republicans had controlled the House of Delegates since 2000, but Democrats won back 15 GOP-held seats in 2017. In 2019, Democrats took full control, the AP reported.
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