 Over the 20th century , Virginia shifted from a largely rural , politically Southern and conservative state to a more urbanized , pluralistic , and politically moderate environment . Up until the 1970s , Virginia was a racially divided one @-@ party state dominated by the Byrd Organization . The legacy of slavery in the state effectively disfranchised African Americans until after passage of civil rights legislation in the mid @-@ 1960s . Enfranchisement and immigration of other groups , especially Hispanics , have placed growing importance on minority voting , while voters that identify as " white working @-@ class " declined by three percent between 2008 and 2012 . Regional differences play a large part in Virginia politics . Rural southern and western areas moved to support the Republican Party in response to its " southern strategy " , while urban and growing suburban areas , including much of Northern Virginia , form the Democratic Party base . Democratic support also persists in union @-@ influenced Roanoke in Southwest Virginia , college towns such as Charlottesville and Blacksburg , and the southeastern Black Belt Region . 
