(The Center Square) – Republican Andrew Rice won Virginia’s 98th House District special election Tuesday with about 62% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.
With all precincts reporting, Rice received 7,316 votes, or 62.46%, compared to Democrat Cheryl Smith’s 4,392 votes, or 37.50%.
The election drew 11,714 ballots, representing about 18% turnout among 65,693 registered voters in the district, based on state election data.
The race was held to fill the seat previously held by longtime Del. Barry Knight, a Republican who died earlier this year. Rice, a Virginia Beach deputy commonwealth’s attorney, will serve the remainder of the term.
Smith received about 43% of the vote in her previous run against Knight, compared to 37.5% in Tuesday’s results, showing a wider gap in the special election.
Rice moved on to the general election after winning a six-way Republican primary in February. He received 644 votes, or about 40.6%, according to election records.
House District 98, located in Virginia Beach, has historically leaned Republican, and Tuesday’s results keep the seat in GOP control.
Special elections typically draw fewer voters than general elections, which can affect margins depending on turnout patterns.
The Virginia Department of Elections labeled the results as unofficial Tuesday night, pending final certification. Absentee, provisional and post-election ballots may still be included in final totals.
Republicans acknowledged the outcome shortly after results were posted. The Republican Party of Virginia congratulated Rice in a statement on social media, calling him “a common-sense conservative leader who will push back against Democrat extremism and fight for policies that benefit working families.”
