Republicans currently hold a 49-46 majority in the Virginia House, and the Nov. 7, 2023, election will determine control of the state legislature and Virginia’s trifecta status. Virginia’s trifecta status changed from Democratic to divided as a result of the 2021 elections. Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) was elected to succeed term-limited incumbent Ralph Northam (D). Democrats also lost control of the Virginia House. If Republicans maintain control of the House and win the Senate, Virginia would become a Republican trifecta. If Democrats win control of the House or maintain control of the Senate, Virginia would remain a divided government.
Thirty-two incumbents did not file for re-election in 2023. This was the largest number of retirements since 2011, and a 244% increase from the average of 9.3 retirements per cycle between 2011 and 2021.
Ballotpedia identified seven battleground elections in the chamber. Republicans currently represent four and Democrats represent three. Incumbents are running in two of these races, while the other five are in open districts, meaning no incumbents are running.
