Republicans increased their majority in the Virginia House of Delegates in Tuesday's election to 66 out of 100 seats, claiming the largest majority in the House's history. That number could effectively reach 68 - the House's lone independent caucuses with the Republican Party, and Republican David Ramadan was declared the winner of the 87th district election, though his opponent will call for a recount.
Larry Sabato, director of the University's Center for Politics, said in an email the majority represents "the most Republicans have ever won, even in the Reconstruction era." The figure surpasses the results of the 2001 election, when the Republicans claimed 64 seats.
Republicans will be able to guarantee legislative dominance with the support of Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, Sabato said.
"Pretty much anything the GOP leadership and Gov. McDonnell want will pass the House of Delegates," Sabato said. "They can lose 17 delegates on any vote and still have a majority."
Sabato attributed the increase to the Republicans' favorable redistricting.
"Remember, the incumbent House Republicans drew up these districts in redistricting," he said. "They did a masterful job, even though I do not support partisan redistricting."
Sabato added in a tweet that any Democrat elected governor for at least the next 20 years would likely have to work with a Republican-led House.
-compiled by Baylee Malloy
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