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Democrats picked up a victory in a special election for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Democrat Garrett McGuire defeated Republican Christopher Cardiff to replace state Del. Mark Sickles (D) in the 17th House District.
Kamala Harris won the district by 43 points in the 2024 election, so the Democrat victory did not surprise anyone.
RACE CALL: VoteHub projects that Garrett McGuire (D) has won the VA State House District 17 Special, a Democratic hold. pic.twitter.com/Ry3Jd2bG5S
— VoteHub (@VoteHub) January 21, 2026
The Hill has more:
Democrats have the majority in the House of Delegates, where state lawmakers moved forward quickly this month with constitutional amendments on abortion access, mid-decade redistricting and other major issues.
Another special election is slated for Feb. 10, as State Sen. Adam Ebbin is also resigning from the Virginia Senate — where Democrats have a tighter margin — to serve in Spanberger’s administration as senior adviser at Virginia’s Cannabis Control Authority.
“This is the single greatest honor of my life. I do not take the trust that the voters of the 17th district have placed in me and I am fully committed to being the delegate they deserve,” McGuire said.
“Thank you to everyone that made this possible, we will celebrate soon but for now, it’s time to get to work!” he added.
Thank you! pic.twitter.com/sqTbVQr5xM
— Garrett McGuire (@GMcGuireVA) January 21, 2026
Virginia Mercury provided further info:
McGuire will serve the remainder of Sickles’ term, which runs through 2027. He is expected to be sworn in in the coming days.
Sickles, a Democrat first elected to the House in 2003, stepped down late last year after Spanberger tapped him to lead the state’s finance portfolio, a move that triggered the special election.
His departure was one of several that have reshaped the House since Democrats regained control of the chamber, as multiple lawmakers have left to join the new administration or pursue higher office.
In a statement Tuesday night, House Democrats praised McGuire’s win.
“We’re excited to welcome Garrett to the House Democratic Caucus and to work alongside him to deliver a Virginia that lowers costs for families, keeps our communities safe, and stands firm against (President Donald) Trump’s attacks on Virginians’ rights and freedoms,” the caucus said.
McGuire, a longtime Fairfax County public policy professional and community leader, has chaired the board of United Community — the largest nonprofit serving the Route 1 corridor — and previously led the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, where he helped steer mental health and disability services through the COVID-19 pandemic and a major staffing shortage, his campaign biography says.
District 17 has favored Democrats by comfortable margins in recent statewide races. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, the district supported Democratic nominees for governor, attorney general and lieutenant governor in the most recent general election, and Democrats hold a significant edge in voter registration.
