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... Former Richmond Del. Mike Jones is headed back to the General Assembly " this time as a state senator " after winning Tuesday's special election in Virginia Senate District 15, a Democratic-leaning seat vacated late last year by Ghazala Hashmi.

By 8 p.m., Jones had defeated Republican John Thomas by a margin of 67.8-32% out of 15,409 votes cast, according to unofficial election results, securing a seat that stretches across much of Richmond and parts of Chesterfield County. ...

Jones' victory immediately triggered another result down-ballot. In House District 77 -- the Richmond-based seat Jones vacated to run for the Senate -- Democrat Charlie Schmidt won a special election of his own Tuesday, defeating Republican Richard Stonage by 76.5-23.4% out of 5,970 votes cast. Smith will fill the remainder of Jones' unexpired House term.

The twin victories keep both districts in Democratic hands amid a period of unusual turnover in the legislature, driven largely by lawmakers joining the administration of incoming Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who will be sworn in later next week. ...