DANVILLE, Va. – Southside Republican Delegates Danny Marshall and Les Adams won easy victories in what are traditionally Republican leaning districts, as did GOP Senators Frank Ruff and Bill Stanley.

But that wasn’t the case across Virginia, where Democrats made history by regaining control of both the state House and Senate for the first time in 25 years.

Marshall said the political landscape has changed and expects Democrats to renew their emphasis on gun control restrictions and greater abortion rights following narrow defeats under GOP control in 2018. The Danville delegate called the results “kind of scary,” adding: “Folks in Southside won’t recognize Virginia because of the bills that (Democrats) have put in that we were able to block in 2018 and 2019.”  “I think those will pass and I think the governor will sign those bills,” said Marshall.

Gov. Ralph Northam has promised swift action and has called a special cabinet meeting to be held at the State Capitol on Wednesday.

Tuesday was a rough night for many suburban Republicans in Virginia. Del. Tim Hugo lost his spot as the last Republican representing Fairfax County, northern Virginia’s most populous suburban jurisdiction.

Of the four states with legislative elections this year, Virginia was the only one where control of the statehouse was up for grabs. Republicans had held slim majorities in both the state House and Senate.