Republicans are hoping to hold all three statewide offices and flip the state House, while Democrats are eyeing full control of Richmond. On Monday, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee issued a memorandum outlining its game plan for the critical Virginia elections at the end of the year.

The memo outlined the Democrats’ state campaign wing’s early investments in the various races, including an “ongoing seven-figure investment” in state House contests, and the expansion of its target map to include the lieutenant governor’s race.

“While the Virginia Senate isn’t on the ballot this year, the DLCC is now unveiling an addition to the Target Map: the Lieutenant Governor’s race,” the memo reads. “This race will be highly competitive, and the victor will serve an important role in the state legislature as the tie-breaking vote in the Virginia Senate. Given Democrats’ slim one-seat majority in the Senate, a Democratic Lieutenant Governor is an essential backstop to protect progress if unexpected vacancies arise or a tie emerges.”

The memo also named its first batch of “Spotlight candidates” with a group of “must-win districts with strong incumbents.” The spotlight candidates listed are Democratic Dels. Josh Thomas, Joshua Cole, Nadarius Clark, and Michael Feggans.

DLCC President Heather Williams touted the efforts as aiming to block Virginia “from the chaos of the Trump administration and protect hard-fought progress” as it makes the case against the president to boost Democrats’ chances in the state.

“All eyes are on Virginia in 2025,” Williams said in a statement. “Opportunities to move policy and build power aren’t happening in Washington – they’re happening in the statehouses. State legislative races are the most immediate opportunity for Democrats to defend and build sustainable power, and Virginia will be the highest profile, most data-rich election of 2025.”

Republicans were swept into power in Virginia in 2021, winning all three statewide races and control in the House of Delegates. In the 2023 elections, Democrats retained control of the state Senate and regained control of the state House.

Going into the November state House elections, Democrats hold a 51-49 majority in the state House and a 21-19 majority in the state Senate. Republicans hold the governorship, the lieutenant governorship, and the attorney general’s office.

VIRGINIA GOVERNOR’S RACE IS SET BETWEEN WINSOME EARLE-SEARS AND ABIGAIL SPANBERGER

Primaries will be held in June to determine the candidates for each party in the state races. The governor’s race matchup is already decided because only one candidate has qualified for each party’s primary. Incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares was the only GOP candidate to qualify for that primary and will advance to the general election for that office.

The Cook Political Report has rated the Virginia governor’s race a “toss-up.” In recent history, Virginia has typically elected a governor from the opposite party from the winner of the most recent presidential election. The most recent exception was in 2013, when Democrat Terry McAuliffe was elected governor a year after Barack Obama was reelected president.