Democrats Win Congress as Virginia Voters Pass Rights Amendments
Democrats seized control of both U.S. congressional chambers while Virginia voters approved constitutional amendments protecting abortion, same-sex marriage, and felon voting rights.
The Democratic Party won control of both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections, flipping at least four Senate and six House seats. This victory grants the party expanded oversight powers to check the Trump-Vance administration. Key outcomes included the reelection of Sarah McBride, the first transgender person in the federal legislature, and the projected appointment of Robert Garcia as chair of the House Oversight Committee.
In Virginia, voters approved three constitutional amendments to protect reproductive health care, same-sex marriage, and voting rights for felons. The abortion amendment passed with approximately 62% of the vote, reducing the required physician sign-offs for third-trimester abortions from three to one. The same-sex marriage protection passed with roughly 57% of the vote, and the voting rights restoration measure passed with 55%.
These victories face immediate legal hurdles. Opponents filed a lawsuit in Tazewell Circuit Court alleging that Governor Abigail Spanberger illegally removed requirements for posting the abortion amendment outside courthouses and that ballot language was deceptive. Judge Jack Hurley scheduled a hearing for November 13 to determine if the vote certification should be blocked. A similar legal challenge has been filed against the same-sex marriage amendment.
In other Virginia races, Senator Mark Warner won a fourth and final term, and several Democratic U.S. House members successfully defended their seats in Northern Virginia. Local contests in the Historic Triangle region included a York County referendum to increase sales tax for public schools and Williamsburg City Council elections.
