Harris defeats Trump in Virginia

Vice President Harris has won Virginia, maintaining Democrats’ control of the state at the presidential level despite some Republican inroads in recent years, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ. 

Polls in the run-up to Election Day showed Harris leading Trump by a comfortable margin. According to The Hill’s Decision Desk HQ average, Harris led Trump in the state 49.3 percent to 45.1 percent ahead of the election. 

The state has been seen as a reliable state for Democrats at the presidential level for 20 years. But Republicans have seen some victories in recent years, most notably Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R) win in 2021. 

But Democrats' chances at the presidential level this year were not seen as strong. Prior to dropping out of the presidential race earlier this year, polls showed President Biden struggling in the blue-leaning state. 

An Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey released just before Biden dropped out in July showed him trailing Trump in Virginia, 45 percent to 43 percent, within the poll’s 3-point margin of error. Those followed a Florida Atlantic University survey showing Biden leading Trump 47 percent to 42 percent. Meanwhile, a Virginia Commonwealth University poll found Trump leading Biden by 3 points, while a New York Times-Siena College poll showed Biden leading Trump by 3 points in the commonwealth.