Live Results: Legislative Special Elections in Virginia and Alabama

We are inside one week to the Iowa caucuses, to be held next Monday. While both parties will caucus, only Republicans will make their voices heard with regards to the presidential election. Democrats will conduct other business, with a separate presidential preference vote held by mail in the weeks ahead. Those results will be available Super Tuesday, March 5. 

Before we get there, however, there are a few state legislative special elections Tuesday. Polls in Virginia and Alabama close at 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM Eastern Time, respectively.

Virginia State Senate District 9

Democrats held on to their narrow edge in the Virginia State Senate in this past November's elections, winning 21 of 40 seats. This represented a gain of one seat for Republicans. The new Senate will be seated Wednesday. Senators serve four-year terms.

The 2023 elections were contested using redistricted boundaries. Republican Frank Ruff, currently the District 15 incumbent, won reelection in the new District 9. He is resigning for health reasons, effective today (January 9). This special election will fill that seat. 

The new District 9 is in the southcentral part of the state, along the North Carolina border. Ruff was unopposed in 2023. 

The nominees are Republican Tammy Mulchi and Democrat Tina Younger.

Virginia State House District 48

Democrats will regain control of the Virginia House of Delegates when the new term begins Wednesday. The 2023 elections were contested with redistricted boundaries; Democrats won 51 of the chamber's 100 seats. Members serve two-year terms.

Republican Les Adams, currently the District 16 incumbent, won reelection in the new District 48. He is resigning effective today (January 9). This special election will fill that seat. 

The new District 48 is in the southcentral part of the state, along the North Carolina border. Adams was unopposed in 2023. 

The nominees are Republican Eric Phillips and Democrat Melody Cartwright.

Alabama State House District 16

Republicans dominate the Alabama State House, holding 75 seats to just 28 for Democrats. There are two vacancies, both previously held by Republicans.  Members serve four-year terms; the next regular elections are in 2026.

District 16 sits west of Birmingham and north of Tuscaloosa. Republican Kyle South resigned in June. South was first elected in 2014 and faced no general election opposition in 2018 or 2022.

Two candidates are on the ballot. The Republican nominee is Bryan Brinyark; Democrats have nominated John Underwood.

The other vacancy, in District 10, will be filled via a special election on March 26.

Alabama State Senate District 9 (Primary)

Republicans have a large 26-8 margin in the Alabama State Senate. Members serve four-year terms; the next regular elections are in 2026. 

There is a single vacancy in District 9, where Republican Clay Scofield resigned in October. The district is in the northeastern part of the state.

Scofield was first elected in 2010 and faced no opposition in being reelected to three additional terms.

Three Republicans are competing to succeed Scofield. If none gets a majority of the vote, a top-two runoff will be held on February 6. 

No Democrats filed to run, so the Republican nominee almost certain to be the next Senator after the April 23 special general election.

Upcoming Elections

Bookmark the 2024 Presidential Election Calendar. 

• January 15
  • Iowa Republican Presidential Caucus
    • Democrats will caucus, but presidential preference vote conducted separately by mail; those results available March 5
• January 16
  • Florida State House District 35 Special
• January 23
  • New Hampshire Presidential Primary (GOP | DEM)
  • Connecticut State House District 115 Special
  • New Hampshire State House Districts Coos 1 and 6 Special
  • New Hampshire State House Districts Rockingham 21 and Strafford 11 Special (Primary)
• January 30
  • Michigan State House Districts 13 and 25 Special (Primary)
  • South Carolina State House District 109 Special (Primary)
  • Texas State House District 2 Special (Runoff)
• February 3
  • South Carolina Democratic Presidential Primary
• February 6
  • Nevada Democratic Presidential Primary
  • Massachusetts State House District Worcester 6 Special (Primary)
• February 8
  • Nevada Republican Presidential Caucus
  • Virgin Islands Republican Presidential Caucus
• February 13
  • New York Congressional District 3 Special
  • Georgia State House District 125 Special
  • Oklahoma State House District 39 Special
  • Pennsylvania State House District 140 Special
• February 24
  • South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary
• February 27
  • Michigan Presidential Primary (GOP | DEM)
    • See link above for details on the two-part GOP process