 Political party strength in Virginia has likewise been in flux . In the 2007 state elections , Democrats regained control of the State Senate , and narrowed the Republican majority in the House of Delegates to eight seats . Yet elections in 2009 resulted in the election of Republican Bob McDonnell as Governor by a seventeen @-@ point margin , the election of a Republican Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General , as well as Republican gains of six seats in the House of Delegates . In 2011 , the Republican caucus took over two @-@ thirds ( 68 – 32 ) of the seats in the House of Delegates , and a majority of the Senate based on the Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling as the tie @-@ breaker . Following the 2013 elections , Democrat Terry McAuliffe was elected Governor by two percentage points , and Democrat Ralph Northam was elected Lieutenant Governor by double digits . Republicans , however , maintained their super @-@ majority ( 68 – 32 ) in the House of Delegates . State election seasons traditionally start with the annual Shad <unk> event in Wakefield . 
