Democrats in Virginia oppose the GOP's attempt to seize complete control of the state.

 Democrats in Virginia oppose the GOP's attempt to seize complete control of the state.

Republicans ran on a platform of outlawing abortions after 15 weeks, but Democrats won the state Senate and the state House.

Richmond, Virginia Voters in Virginia have rejected Republican attempts to seize complete control of the state government, maintaining Democratic dominance in the Legislature as a check on GOP Governor Glenn Youngkin and conservative policy recommendations, such as a ban on abortions beyond 15 weeks.

The Associated Press predicted that Democrats would flip the state House and maintain their majority in the state Senate.

Youngkin devoted a significant portion of the summer and fall to supporting Republican candidates throughout Virginia through his PAC, Spirit of Virginia, which contributed millions of dollars to significant races. The State Board of Elections released data indicating that the group also instituted an early voting program that resulted in a rise in early turnout among Virginia Republicans.

Democrats will still be able to stop Youngkin's proposed laws in the General Assembly as a result of the outcome. Before Youngkin's term ends in 2025, he and his allies hoped to pass legislation addressing public safety, education, and the economy in the next two years.

However, Republicans have suffered on the issue of abortion since the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade in the summer of 2022. Abortion was also a major campaign issue for Republicans.

Youngkin has long advocated for the outlawing of abortions after 15 weeks, with the exception of rape, incest, and situations in which the woman's life is in danger. He maintained that a "consensus" of 15 weeks was something that Virginians could support, and candidates running in important battleground districts vigorously promoted the idea.

However, a sizeable sum of money was also spent by their Democratic opponents to criticize the plan. In the wake of Roe, Republicans are still trying to find a compelling abortion-related message.

Any legislation aimed at restricting abortions is almost certain to be defeated in the General Assembly the following year, given the Democratic victory.

Outside of the state, support for Virginia's races was also evident. Billionaires Jeff Yass and Thomas Peterffy each gave Youngkin's Spirit of Virginia several million dollars. In the closing days of the campaign, Democrats urged Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California to help them cross the finish line by raising money and supporting candidates. Thousands of dollars were also sent by an organization connected to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to support Democrats in the final days of the campaign.

Tuesday's Democratic victory could make any prospective plans more difficult. Perhaps Youngkin needed to run for a higher position. He has been "so focused" on Virginia and the legislative races, telling NBC News that he cannot run for reelection in 2025. In recent months, he has skirted the subject of a possible presidential bid in 2024.