Democrats Capture Control of Virginia Senate

Candidates sent out a large amount of negative mail, and many launched television ad campaigns that were unprecedented for a state legislative race. In Northern Virginia, seven Senate candidates purchased network airtime in the expensive Washington market.

For most of the campaign, Republicans were on the defensive because of the party's role in crafting a plan in February that will pump $1 billion annually into highway and mass transit projects.

Because GOP legislators couldn't agree on a statewide tax increase, the plan included regional panels in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia that can raise taxes locally as well as steep fees on bad drivers.

The fees touched off a summer-long rebellion, including an online petition on which more than 175,000 people vowed to oust lawmakers who supported them.

In late August, GOP leaders sought to shift the focus to illegal immigration after Congress failed to address the issue.

House and Senate GOP leaders agreed on a plan to bar illegal immigrants from public colleges and deny them bail when they are charged with a crime.

In Northern Virginia, several GOP state legislative candidates also teamed with Stewart in Prince William to promote cutting off services for illegal immigrants in that county.

Immigration also became a factor in Connolly's race. But unlike Stewart, Connolly focused on illegal behavior, such as overcrowding, and did not support withholding services to people in the country illegally.

Unlike some previous Virginia legislative races, many GOP candidates shied away from campaigning on social issues such as abortion. House and Senate leaders unveiled plans for more spending on health care and school construction.

Kaine, who teamed with former governor Mark R. Warner (D), crafted a message of change, saying Republicans had blocked progress on quality-of-life issues, such as better schools and highways. Kaine and Warner argued that Democrats were responsible for the state's recent accolades, including being named by Forbes Magazine as the best state for business.

The stakes for both parties were heightened this year because this was the last Senate election before redistricting in 2011.

Staff writers Brigid Schulte, Michael A. Laris and Chris L. Jenkins contributed to this report.