With early voting already underway and primary day set for Tuesday, Virginia’s House of Delegates races are shaping up to be a revealing test of party identity, grassroots energy, and electoral ambition. For the first time in many years, Democrats have fielded candidates in all 100 House districts — a feat that underscores just how determined the party is to hold the majority it won back two years ago, and how fired up its base has become heading into another high-stakes election year. Many of the most compelling primaries are playing out in safely blue districts, where challengers are confronting Democratic incumbents from the left and prompting broader questions about the party’s ideological trajectory. Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said this year’s primary season offers “a chance to decide whether the party wants to aim for a consistently centrist message, or push in a more liberal direction.” While Virginia Democrats have traditionally leaned toward moderate candidates in statewide elections, Farnsworth said, there’s a growing appetite among some voters to advance a more progressive agenda. The current moment, he adds, is reminiscent of 2017, when Donald Trump’s presidency helped spark a blue wave in Virginia. “You’re seeing the willingness of Democrats to run even in places where the party is not favored,” Farnsworth said. “And even when challengers are taking on incumbents in Democratic House seats, when you put those things together, you really see a high level of energy.” But that momentum may come at a cost, he added. “Moderates remain the single most threatened category of Virginia elected officials out there.” Here’s a rundown of 10 races to watch when polls close Tuesday evening.
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