Voters End One Party Rule In Congress

    The Democrats reclaimed control of the U.S House of Representatives on Tuesday, and Elaine Luria who defeated Republican incumbent Scott Taylor in the  Virginia 2nd Congressional District will join them.

    Luria will be among join 23 new Democrats and a historic 100 women, representing both parties,  in the  U.S. House of Representatives when it convenes in January. Democrats now own five of the six  seats from

Virginia in the  House due to the Nov. 6 election.

    The Democrats were unable to secure control of the  Senate and instead of a 51-49 margin the Republicans now hold a 50-41 lead in that body.

Virginia Beach Makes History By Electing Two African-Americans to City Council

    For the first time in the city’s history, two African Americans will sit on the Virginia Beach  City Council. Aaron Rouse claimed one of the two open at-large seats. Rouse is a retired National Football League player who has a nonprofit called Rouse’s House.

“It will be good to have more diversity on our council to serve the people,” he said of his win on Tuesday. “The people spoke.”

         In a special election for the Centreville seat on the Virginia Beach Council, Sabrina Wooten will serve the remainder of  Bobby Dyer’s term, which ends in 2020.  Dyer decided to run for mayor and agreed to forfeit the position at the end of December. He was successful in his bid and will now become the city’s mayor.

    Wooten, 43, is the chaplain for the Virginia Beach Police Department.

Virginia Beach has elected only three African-Americans at separate periods over the years, each serving one term. The last one was Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond.

Two Newcomers On Portsmouth City Council

    After seeking a seat on council seven times, Paul Battle won one of the three seats open on the Portsmouth City council.  He will serve with Shannon Glover, another African American and newcomer on the council. Incumbent Bill Moody regained his seat on the council.

        Portsmouth, a majority Black city, uses an at-large system of electing the council. Glover received the highest number of votes, 18,047; and Battle received the second highest 14,764.

    Incumbent Mark Whitaker, who was convicted in a federal trial related to illicit transactions involving a credit union owned by the church he pastors received the fifth highest number of votes, 8,510; Stephanie C. Revell received the second highest with 11,855.

    Whitaker had hoped to secure his right to run for office and participate in a special election to fill the seat next spring. 

Incumbents Sen. Tim Kaine, Rep. Bobby Scott, Rep. Donald McEachin Re-elected

    U.S. Senate Incumbent Tim Kaine won over Republican Conservative Corey Stewart.

    Third Congressional District incumbent Robert Scott, who represents parts of Norfolk and Portsmouth won another term and has the longest tenure of the 11 members Virginia Congressional Delegation.

Speaking on his re-election and that of the new Democratically-controlled House of Representatives, Scott said, “It is clear that the American people are sending a strong message to Washington. They want a Congress that is more transparent and responsive to the American people. They want a Congress that will work together to get things done for working men and women. And they want a Congress that will hold the Trump administration accountable when necessary.”

In the  Fourth Congressional District A. Donald McEachin won a second term. However, he lost the city of Chesapeake to Republican opponent Ryan A. McAdams 27,849 to the incumbent’s 21,847 or 43.29%.