Governor Tim Kaine announced Monday that the special elections to fill seats in the 8th and 37th Senate districts will be held Tuesday, January 12, 2010. The opening in the 37th, which covers part of Fairfax County, was created by the election of Ken Cuccinelli as Attorney General. The opening in the 8th, which covers part of Virginia Beach, was created by the election of Ken Stolle as sheriff of that city.
In the 37th, there are three Republican candidates who will face off tonight in a firehouse primary. Delegate Dave Marsden is the Democratic candidate.
The deadline to file to run in either election is Friday, December 11. As of this writing, no Democratic candidate has emerged in the 8th. The district is rather Republican, with McCain having defeated Obama by 10 points here and which McDonnell won by a 67%-33% margin over Deeds. A rather heated battle between Republican candidates Rosemary Wilson and Jeff McWaters will come to a head this Saturday, with a canvass.
Democrats currently hold a slim 21-19 majority in the state Senate.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 