Republican Andrew Rice achieved a significant victory in the recent special election for Virginia House of Delegates District 98, defeating Democrat Cheryl Smith by an impressive 25-point margin. This win stands out against the backdrop of the 2024 presidential election results, specifically President Trump’s performance in the area.
Rice garnered 7,316 votes, translating to 62.5 percent of the total, while Smith received 4,392 votes, or 37.5 percent.
This election filled the seat left open after the passing of longtime Republican Delegate Barry Knight. Knight had dominated elections in that district, winning nearly 90 percent of the votes in 2023 and around 57 percent against Smith in 2025.
A deputy commonwealth’s attorney and longtime resident of the district, Rice secured his nomination after defeating five other Republicans in a February 2026 firehouse primary.
🚨 HOLY CRAP! Republicans just scored a +14 point OVER PERFORMANCE in the Virginia House of Delegates District 98 Special Election
Andrew Rice (R) defeats Cheryl Smith (D) by 28+ points, in the Trump+14 district
Apply liberals’ logic, this means a RED TSUNAMI is coming 😅🔥 pic.twitter.com/OZImi7xLNe
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 18, 2026
Rice’s victory was anticipated given the Republican stronghold in the district. In the previous presidential election, the area favored President Trump by approximately 15 percentage points, making Rice’s special election win even more impressive.
His 62.5 percent share is around six points better than Trump’s previous performance, with his 25-point victory margin indicating an encouraging shift for Republican support.
This significant win comes as Virginia prepares for a statewide referendum on April 21. Voters will have the opportunity to decide on a proposed constitutional amendment that allows the Virginia General Assembly to temporarily revise congressional district maps until the 2030 census.
Signed by Governor Abigail Spanberger, this measure, pushed by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly, could greatly impact the 2026 midterms. It proposes changing the state’s current distribution from six Democrat and five Republican seats to a lopsided 10-1 Democrat majority.
Rice opposed the amendment during his campaign, promoting a ‘no’ vote, while Smith supported it. Early voting for this crucial referendum began on March 6, 2026.
Political analysts suggest that the strong Republican turnout in District 98, combined with increased early voting in Republican-leaning districts, might indicate broader voter sentiment and mobilization trends that could influence the upcoming referendum.
