Prior to the Loudon County, Va. election, Republicans won two other special elections in Virginia. With Republican Bill Bolling resigning from the senate to become lieutenant governor last month, his Hanover-area district was won handily by a fellow conservative Republican, State Delegate Ryan McDougle, Jr. The 97th District seat formerly held by McDougle was then won by Christopher Peace, lobbyist and son of late Hanover County Supervisor Nina K. Peace. In a closer-than-usual race, young Peace won by 222 votes over Democrat John Montgomery, a U.S. Army Ranger who served in Desert Storm.
The makeup of the state assembly is now 57 Republicans, 40 Democrats, and three independents.
