Democratic incumbents Jennifer McClellan and Tim Kaine secured key victories in Virginia’s midterm elections, with McClellan winning her second term in the 4th Congressional District and Kaine achieving a third term in the U.S. Senate. Both candidates celebrated Nov. 5 with supporters and pledged continued service on core issues.

McClellan, who won 66.8% of the vote against Republican challenger Bill Moher, initially claimed her seat in a special election on Feb. 21 to succeed the late Rep. Donald McEachin. Her win comes as she reaffirms her commitment to priorities such as childcare, affordable housing and voting rights.

“Thank you for sending me back to Washington,” McClellan told the crowd, which included prominent Virginia Democrats like gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney, and Mayor-elect Danny Avula. In remarks to reporters, McClellan also emphasized her pledge to continue her work on the House Armed Services Committee and to advocate for legislation like the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to strengthen protections under the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine addresses supporters at his election night watch party at the Hippodrome in Richmond after winning his third term in the U.S. Senate. Kaine defeated Republican challenger Hung Cao with 54.1% of the vote.
Photo by Brian Palmer

Kaine, who has held his Senate seat since 2012, defeated Republican Hung Cao with about 54.1% of the vote. Addressing supporters at an election night watch party at the Hippodrome, Kaine expressed gratitude and a sense of duty to tackle ongoing challenges.

“There’s so much work to do, but we’ve shown in Virginia that if we link arms, we can walk side by side with people and make progress,” Kaine said. “Thank you so much for putting your faith in me.”

Kaine’s victory, following a career that has included serving as Richmond’s mayor, and Virginia’s lieutenant governor and governor, is seen as another affirmation of Virginia’s swing-state status, even as Cao’s campaign made inroads with conservative and independent voters. Cao, a retired Navy captain and Vietnamese immigrant, built his platform around issues such as immigration, inflation and energy independence, while also voicing criticism of U.S. border policy, diversity and equity efforts and gun control laws.

Throughout the race, Kaine and Cao engaged directly only once in a debate at Norfolk State University, where they discussed the economy, abortion rights and national security. Kaine’s lead in both polling and campaign financing proved insurmountable, and Cao, who has yet to formally concede, acknowledged the steep odds against him in a social media post on Tuesday, calling the results “mathematically almost impossible” to overturn.

“We moved the heck out of that needle,” Cao said to supporters after Kaine’s projected win. “We’ve proven tonight that Virginia is not blue—if anything, it’s purple.”

Cao’s run for Senate was his second attempt at public office, following a 2022 campaign against Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. His campaign this year earned endorsements from several prominent Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump, former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, and the Virginia Citizens Defense League.

As Kaine prepares for his next term, he faces a shift in Senate control, with Republicans projected to secure a minimum 52-seat majority. For McClellan, her win reinforces Democratic support in Virginia’s 4th District, and she will join other returning incumbents in navigating upcoming legislative challenges.