The results are in: Here’s how the Historic Triangle voted

HISTORIC TRIANGLE – The 2026 midterm elections are in the books. As of Thursday, calls were made in each race Historic Triangle voters weighed in on.

Here’s a roundup of the results of each contest.

U.S. Senate: Warner wins re-election

Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Warner, who has held the office since 2013, defeated Republican Bert Mizusawa, a retired Army major general, in one of the earliest race calls of the night. Warner won 2,182,959 votes, or 61.2%, to Mizusawa’s 1,376,714, or 38.6%, per the Associated Press.

Warner took to social media to thank those who rallied behind him.

“I am excited and grateful for the people of Virginia,” Warner said. “Now, it’s time to roll up our sleeves, get to work and deliver for our great country.”

Mizusawa released a statement on Tuesday night acknowledging the supporters who “worked tirelessly” throughout his 19-month campaign.

“It has been an honor to travel across our Commonwealth and meet so many hardworking Virginians who care deeply about the future of our state and our country,” Mizusawa said.

In York County, Warner won 52.76% of the vote to Mizusawa’s 47.04%. He received 58.62% of the vote in James City County to Mizusawa’s 41.20%.

 In the City of Williamsburg, Warner took 76.91% of the vote to Mizusawa’s 22.74%, per the Virginia Department of Elections.

U.S. Congress (District 1): Taylor narrowly defeats Wittman in nail-biter

A neck-and-neck race between Democrat Shannon Taylor, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, and longtime incumbent Republican Rep. Wittman ended in victory for Taylor.

While Taylor was slightly ahead in the vote count late on Tuesday night, the Associated Press deemed the race too close to call until 11:59 a.m. on Thursday. With 99% of the votes counted, Taylor secured 208,052 votes, or 51.1%, to Wittman’s 198,429, or 48.7%.

Taylor declared victory on election night. Speaking to supporters at a watch party, she doubled down on the anti-corruption message that was central to her campaign.

“Corporate special interests have captured our federal government by buying off self-interested career politicians who pass policy focused on serving themselves rather than us,” Taylor said. “Today is a new day.”

Taylor said she will push for term limits and bans on stock trading for members of Congress.

Wittman did not concede until the race was called two days later. In a statement, he thanked his supporters and congratulated Taylor.

“Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to strengthen our national defense, support our service members, veterans, and military families, protect the Chesapeake Bay and our natural resources, strengthen our economy, and expand opportunities for future generations,” Wittman said. “I am proud of the work we have accomplished together and the relationships we have built across the First District.”

Wittman won York County by a small margin, taking 50.01% of the vote to Taylor’s 49.74%.

Taylor was the clear victor in the City of Williamsburg, where she won 74.56% of the vote to Wittman’s 25.12%. Taylor was also comfortably won James City County, receiving 55.25% of the vote to Wittman’s 44.55%, per the Virginia Department of Elections.

Williamsburg City Council: Kern-Scheerer wins re-election, Murphy appears to take 2nd place

Incumbent City Council member Stacy Kern-Scheerer easily won re-election, receiving a total of 4,179 or 42.40% of the votes in the City of Williamsburg, per Virginia Public Access Project. 

Carolyn Murphy was in second place as of 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, bringing in 2,877, or 29.19% of the vote to competitor Eino Korpela’s 2,638, or 26.77%. Only 239 votes separated the two candidates.

Kern-Scheerer told The Virginia Gazette she was excited for the chance to continue serving Williamsburg residents and will focus on “keeping what we love about Williamsburg and also just envisioning the future of Williamsburg, too.”

While the vote results will not be certified by the Department of Elections until Nov. 10, the preliminary tallies suggest that Murphy will have the opportunity to fill the second seat that is being vacated by Mayor Douglas Pons. The tally includes early and Election Day votes but does not factor in provisional ballots.

York County shoots down school tax proposal

Voters in York County rejected an effort to increase the local sales tax by 1% to pay for school capital projects.

With all precincts reporting, a total of 20,025, or 61.01%, of voters pushed back on the measure by voting “No,” while 12,795 or 38.99%, supported the tax with a “Yes” vote.

York voters were in good company. Of the 47 Virginia localities that proposed the tax, only 15 approved it, while 32 did not.

In York, the proposal would have levied a 1% additional tax on goods – with exemptions on groceries and hygiene products – until 2046.

Earlier this year, state lawmakers passed a bill authorizing localities to generate revenue for school upgrades and construction with a 1% sales tax increase. The law stipulated that voter approval via referendum would be required to implement the tax.

All 3 statewide constitutional amendments pass

Virginia voters approved all three statewide constitutional amendments. The first, which established the right to reproductive freedom, passed by a margin of 62.47$ to 37.53% per Virginia Department of Election data.

The second, which affirms that any two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender or race, passed with 57.49% “Yes” votes to 42.51% “No” votes. The third, restoring the right to vote for felons who complete their sentence, passed 56.56% to 43.44%, per the Virginia Department of Elections.

The amendments passed in all three Historic Triangle localities.