Virginia House of Delegates certifies three special-election winners and assigns committee seats

The Virginia House of Delegates on Jan. 19 reported the results of three special elections and swore in the winners, who took their seats and received committee assignments from the Speaker.

The clerk told the chamber that "it has been determined that Charlie H. Schmidt received a majority of the votes cast and was duly sworn into office earlier today," and that "Gretchen M. Bulova received a majority of votes cast and also was duly sworn into office earlier today," followed by a similar announcement that "Margaret Angela Franklin received a majority of votes cast and was duly sworn into office earlier today." The special elections were called to fill vacancies in the 77th, 11th and 23rd House districts, respectively.

Following the swearing-in announcements, the Speaker announced committee assignments for the newly seated members. Delegate Bulova was assigned to the Privileges and Elections Committee, the Education Committee, and the Finance Committee. Delegate Margaret Franklin was assigned to the Finance Committee and the Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns. Delegate Schmidt was assigned to the Courts of Justice Committee and the Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation.

The Speaker also announced an unrelated personnel change removing a member from the Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns and replacing them with another delegate. No formal roll-call votes were recorded in the transcript for the committee assignments; they were announced by the Speaker as effective immediately.

The arrivals change the House's membership and committee composition as the Legislature begins its 2026 session; the new members will participate in committee work scheduled throughout the day.