Major U.S. news outlets project that Democratic Sen. Mark Warner has won a fourth term in Virginia, the first Senate race called on Election Night 2026.
First Senate call of the night
Shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, The Associated Press, NBC News and CNN projected that Warner defeated Republican Bert Mizusawa. The race was widely expected to stay in Democratic hands. It is a hold, not a seat flip.
Virginia is one of the first large states to finish voting on Election Night. A projection means decision desks judge that a candidate has enough votes or a wide enough lead to win once all ballots are counted. It is not the same as a certified result.
Warner posted on X earlier Tuesday urging Virginians to vote before polls closed. “Virginia – today is the day. Polls are open til 7 pm across the Commonwealth. Make your voice heard. VOTE!” he wrote, according to his official account.
Who ran and what each side said
Warner, a former Virginia governor and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sought what he called a final term. In an October interview with the Virginia Mercury, he framed the race around healthcare, artificial intelligence rules and rolling back policies he said had raised prices, including tariffs and the war with Iran.
Mizusawa, a retired U.S. Army major general and West Point graduate, argued Virginia needed a senator who could work closely with President Donald Trump. He stressed energy production, border security and his military background. “If there’s anybody he’ll listen to, it would be me, especially compared to my opponent,” Mizusawa told the Virginia Mercury.
Key facts about the contest:
- Warner has held the seat since 2009 and won about 56% in 2020.
- No Republican has won a Virginia U.S. Senate race since John Warner in 2002.
- Warner raised more than $25 million through mid-July; Mizusawa raised about $376,000, according to the Virginia Public Access Project figures cited by the Virginia Mercury.
- National Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to take the chamber from Republicans, according to AP’s Election Night briefing.
Why it matters tonight
The Virginia call does not change the national Senate math by itself. It does give Democrats an early Election Night win in a state they were favored to keep. Control of Congress still hinges on closer races in places such as Texas, Michigan, Maine and elsewhere as results roll in from west to east.
NBC News Decision Desk projections and AP race calls will keep updating through the night. Certified tallies come later from state election officials.
Sources: AP midterm live updates, NBC News Virginia Senate results, The Hill Virginia live results, Virginia Mercury candidate interviews, Mark Warner on X
