By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Voters in two Virginia House of Delegates districts elected Democratic candidates Tuesday in special elections prompted by lawmakers leaving the General Assembly to join Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration.
In House District 11, voters elected Gretchen Bulova, who won 68.8% of the vote, or 5,599 ballots cast, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections. Republican Adam Wise received 30.8% of the vote, or 2,508 ballots, while write-in candidates accounted for 0.39%.
The 11th District seat became vacant after former Del. David Bulova stepped down following his appointment as secretary of natural and historic resources in Spanberger’s incoming administration. Gretchen Bulova, his wife, won the race to succeed him in the Fairfax-area district, which includes Fairfax City and portions of Fairfax County.
Bulova secured the Democratic nomination earlier this month through a party-run firehouse primary. Firehouse primaries are organized by political parties rather than the commonwealth and are commonly used during special election cycles because they allow parties to select nominees quickly when vacancies occur.
Voters also decided a separate special election in House District 23, where Democrat Margaret Angela Franklin won with 77.2% of the vote, or 2,773 ballots, according to unofficial election results. Republican Verndell C. Robinson received 22.6% of the vote, or 810 ballots, while write-in candidates accounted for 0.19%.
The 23rd District seat was vacated after former Del. Candi Mundon King stepped down to serve as secretary of the commonwealth in Spanberger’s administration. The district includes parts of Prince William and Stafford counties.
Both special elections were held Tuesday, Jan. 13, one day before the Virginia General Assembly convened Wednesday for its 2026 regular session.
Another special election is scheduled for Jan. 20 in Virginia’s 17th House District, also in Fairfax County, where Democrat Garrett McGuire and Republican Christopher Cardiff are competing to fill a seat vacated by Del. Mark Sickles.
Sickles stepped down after being selected to serve as Virginia’s next secretary of finance.