Democrat Shannon Taylor won Virginia’s 1st Congressional District with 51% of the vote, unseating 10-term Republican Rep. Rob Wittman and flipping a seat Republicans had held since 1977, the Associated Press reported. The margin was a dramatic reversal from 2024, when Wittman defeated Democrat Leslie Mehta by nearly 13 percentage points in the same district, according to The Hill.
Taylor, the commonwealth’s attorney for Henrico County since 2012, ousted an incumbent who first won the seat in a 2007 special election and had not faced a serious reelection challenge until this year, The Hill reported. With all precincts and early votes reported, Taylor won by a little more than 5,000 votes, Virginia’s Scope reported. Wittman did not concede Tuesday night, telling his election night crowd in Glen Allen that the race was too close to call.
McGuire Holds the 5th District for Republicans
While Democrats flipped the 1st, Republican incumbent John McGuire won the 5th District with 50% of the vote, defeating Democrat and former congressman Tom Perriello, who took 48%, and independent Cooke Harvey, the AP reported, calling the race seconds after the 1st. The district includes Goochland, Powhatan and parts of Hanover.
Democrats Flip Two Seats, Take Eight of Eleven
In the 2nd District, former Rep. Elaine Luria unseated Republican incumbent Jen Kiggans, the AP reported, flipping that seat for Democrats as well. In the 4th District, Democratic incumbent Rep. Jennifer McClellan easily held off Republican Robert Murray Jr. and independent Joan Bell, winning 72% of the vote, per the Virginia Department of Elections.
Virginia Democrats entered the midterms holding six seats to Republicans’ five. Now they will control eight of Virginia’s 11 congressional seats next year, after flipping two Republican-held districts Tuesday, Axios reported.
Pending Ballots Affect Current Tallies
The margins in both the 1st and 5th District races do not include provisional ballots or mailed absentee ballots received after Election Day. Election officials have until Friday at noon to receive those ballots, Axios reported.
Why the 1st District Flipped
The district, which stretches from the Richmond suburbs through Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties to the Chesapeake Bay, grew increasingly competitive as suburban voters shifted toward Democrats, The Hill reported. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report moved the race from “lean Republican” to “toss-up” in October. Democrats also attacked Wittman over his stock trading while in Congress, while Wittman questioned Taylor’s record as a prosecutor. Democratic groups including the House Majority PAC and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee poured outside money into the race, while Wittman outspent Taylor on his own television advertising, $2.2 million to $1.6 million through October, The Hill reported.
Counting Delays Extend Final Results
When will the 1st District results be final?
Not until Friday at noon, the deadline for election officials to receive mailed absentee ballots sent after Election Day, plus any provisional ballots. The reported 51% margin does not include those votes.
SEAT FLIP: Democrat Shannon Taylor defeats Republican Rep. Rob Wittman in Virginia's 1st District, NBC News projects, flipping a GOP-held seat in a Cook Toss Up race. Taylor leads 51.0% to 48.7% with 98.5% counted. #Election2026
How long had Republicans held the 1st District?
Since 1977, per VPM, with Wittman holding the seat since a 2007 special election.
How does this year’s result compare to Wittman’s last race?
Wittman defeated Democrat Leslie Mehta by nearly 13 percentage points in 2024, while President Trump won the district by roughly 5 points that year, The Hill reported. This year Taylor won by just over 5,000 votes, Virginia’s Scope reported.
The newly elected members of Congress will take office in January.