Democratic Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg unseated Republican incumbent state Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant in a major upset for Republicans, who had hoped to gain control of the Virginia Senate.
VanValkenburg, a high school civics teacher who serves in the Old Dominion's lower chamber, defeated Dunnavant, a practicing OB-GYN, in the Henrico-area 16th District.The Richmond suburb's decision to send a Democrat to Richmond may be a death knell in Republican chances to gain control of the upper chamber, which has acted as a bulwark against Gov. Glenn Youngkin's priorities.
VanValkenburg said Dunnavant is"proposing a ban," but the incumbent voted against Youngkin's plan when it was before the Senate.Both candidates pushed bipartisan bona fides and their willingness to go against their parties in the district that favors Democrats but has a Republican incumbent.Dunnavant was endorsed by Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares and received donations from several fellow state senators.
VanValkenburg was endorsed by Reps. Abigail Spanberger and Jennifer McClellan , as well as the late former Rep. Donald McEachin.