The Virginia gubernatorial race in 2026 could be influenced by the results of the special elections held on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, three special elections in Virginia will offer the first glimpse into suburban voting patterns for the 2025 gubernatorial races and 2026 midterms.

In the previous election cycle, a significant change in Loudoun County's federal elections prompted two state legislators to leave their seats and run for higher office.

Loudoun County, located halfway between Charles Town, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C., has seen a shift towards blue in recent years due to the influx of liberal Washingtonians leaving the District of Columbia. This area has also been at the center of national debates regarding transgender policies and in-school assaults.

The upcoming special election in Virginia is a result of the upset of former U.S. Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., in Lynchburg, which left Democrats with a one-vote majority in the state Senate.

Political watchers are closely monitoring the Republicans' performance in the Loudoun races, which are typically low-turnout affairs, as a sign of their potential success in the upcoming election.

The upcoming odd-year governorship elections in Virginia and New Jersey are crucial to predict the future performance of President-elect Trump and the GOP in 2024.

In 2021, Youngkin's performance in Loudoun and other blue counties did not win him the areas outright but drew enough votes from former Gov. Terry McAuliffe to score a major statewide upset.

Republicans are hoping to repeat their success this fall and gain control of the Senate by winning in one Loudoun and one Southside seat.

If Republicans win the delegate seat, they will tie the lower chamber, ending Democrats' sole leadership. A complete GOP victory in Richmond would give the party full control, as seen during George W. Bush's presidency.

On Friday, Youngkin stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that he is optimistic about the Republicans' prospects on Tuesday, particularly for the two Loudoun candidates who can build on Virginia's long-standing reputation as a success story.

Youngkin stated that Tumay Harding and Ram Venkatachalam are commonsense conservative leaders who will be excellent partners in their work to provide more tax relief for Virginia families, tackle the most detested car tax, safeguard communities from sanctuary city policies, and ensure parents remain in control of their children's lives.

"I eagerly anticipate joining Tumay, Ram, and Virginians in advocating for Loudoun County's interests in Richmond."

After winning the open seat of retiring Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., U.S. Rep-elect Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., announced that he would delegate Kannan Srinivasan, D-Brambleton, to succeed him.

That left Srinivasan’s House of Delegates seat open.

Venkatachalam, an Indian immigrant and IT professional at Deloitte, emphasized his involvement in Loudoun community boards and his commitment to reducing taxes and enhancing public safety on his campaign website.

A Peace Corps veteran and former adviser to Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del., is the Democratic candidate.

Politico reported that Singh stated that voters are feeling various emotions following Trump's election win, including anger, frustration, disappointment, and sadness.

"When you convey the significance of the upcoming special election, the excitement intensifies."

John Foster Dulles International Airport's open state Senate seat is being contested by Srinivasan, who was previously appointed to the state Medicaid board by Gov. Ralph Northam, and Harding, a teacher and small business owner.

In Southside Virginia, Congressman Good has been unseated by Rep-elect John McGuire, R-Va., leaving his heavily-Republican state Senate district vacant.

The district, encompassing nearly a dozen counties between Interstate 64 and US-460, is a diverse mix of Richmond exurbs, iconic Civil War sites, and agricultural lands.

In the upcoming election, Democrat Professor Jack Trammell from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, will be running against Republican Luther Cifers.

A company owner who grew up in a farming area outside Amelia Court House, Virginia, and specializes in kayaking and fishing products, is heavily favored based on historical data.

Cifers stated on his website that although he is not a politician, he believes that our government functions optimally when working citizens actively participate.

Trammell and his volunteers have been campaigning by talking to voters at events, on their porches, and over the phone, according to a statement released by the Henrico Democrats.