History was made Tuesday night with the election of a record number of Black candidates to the General Assembly.

Of the 53 Black candidates who ran for legislative seats, a record 32 won, including 30 Democrats and two Republicans.

Among the high notes, Portsmouth Delegate Don L. Scott Jr. appears to be on his way to becoming the first Black speaker of the House of Delegates.

Delegate Scott easily won re-election and as the current minority leader of the House Democrats is first in line to vault into the speaker’s chair if Democratic victories for at least 51 of the 100 House seats are confirmed when the election is certified.

In addition, a record 24 Black members will hold seats in the House, 23 Democrats and one Republican, when the next session of the legislature convenes in January.

At least five will come from the Richmond area, including veteran Delegate Delores L. McQuinn and four newcomers, Rae C. Cousins and Michael J. Jones of Richmond, Debra D. Gardner of Chesterfield and Destiny Levere Bolling of Henrico.

Black candidates won three of the key races for the House to boost Democratic efforts to win control.

In Hampton Roads, Democrat Michael B. Feggans upset Republican incumbent Karen S. Greenhalgh to win the 97th House District, while Democrat Nadarus E. Clark defeated Republican Michael Dillender to win the 84th House District seat.

In the Fredericksburg area, Democrat Joshua G. Cole defeated Republican Lee Peters to win the 65th House District seat.

In addition, a record eight Black senators will be seated in January in the 40-member chamber, seven Democrats and one Republican.

The Republican will be J.D. “Danny” Diggs, the former sheriff of York County and Poquoson, who upset Democratic incumbent T. Monty Mason in the 24th Senate District, which includes Williamsburg and Newport News as well as York County.

On the Democratic side, incumbent Sens. Lamont Bagby of Richmond, Mamie E. Locke of Hampton, L. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth and Aaron Rouse of Virginia Beach will be joined by newcomers Lashrecse Aird of Petersburg, Angelia Williams Graves of Norfolk and Jennifer D. Carroll Foy of Prince William County.

Sen. Rouse’s win in his rematch with Republican Kevin Adams in the 22nd Senate District was regarded as key to the Democrats retaining a majority in the Senate.

The Black members of the House of Delegates will include Republican A.C. Cordoza, 86th District and the following Democrats:

Adele Mclure, 2nd District; Charniele Herring, 9th District; Karen A. Keys-Gamarra, 7th District; Rozia A. “J.R.” Henson Jr., 19th District; Michelle-Ann Maldonado, 20th District; Candi P.M. King, 23rd District; Luke E. Torian, 24th District; Briana D. Sewell, 25th District; and Joshua G. Cole, 65th District.

Also, Debra D. Gardner, 76th District; Michael J. Jones, 77th District; Rae C. Cousins, 79th District; Destiny Levere Bolling, 80th District; Delores L. McQuinn, 81st District; Nadarius E. Clark, 84th District; Jeion A. Ward, 87th District; Don L. Scott Jr., 88th District; C.E. “Cliff” Hayes Jr., 91st District; Bonita Grace Anthony, 92nd District; Jackie Hope Glass, 93rd District; Alex Q. Askew, 95th District; and Michael B. Feggans, 97th District.

Also, Democrat Altoosa R. Reaser, who won the 27th House District, will be the first Iranian-American to serve in the House. And Democrat Suhas Subramanayam, who won in the 32nd Senate District, will be the first Hindu to serve in the upper chamber.