Democratic state delegate Kannan Srinivasan emerged victorious in Virginia’s Loudoun County Democratic primary, held to select a candidate for the 32nd District Senate seat. This seat was vacated by Suhas Subramanyam, who is transitioning to Congress. Srinivasan will face Republican Tumay Harding in the special election scheduled for January 7.
Prominent Democratic leaders, including U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, Subramanyam, and state Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, endorsed Srinivasan. Subramanyam’s departure follows his successful bid to replace Rep. Jennifer Wexton, who retired due to health reasons. Liz Carter, Chair of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee, praised Srinivasan as an outstanding delegate and a steadfast advocate for community interests.
In a pre-primary interview, Srinivasan emphasized the critical nature of this election. He highlighted the need to safeguard women’s reproductive rights, healthcare access, and gun safety measures, which he believes are under threat from Republican agendas. He stressed that retaining this seat is essential to maintaining the Democratic majority in the Virginia Senate.
A 25-year resident of Loudoun, Srinivasan became politically active after being denied Medicaid coverage following a life-altering accident. His advocacy for healthcare reform led to his appointment to Virginia’s state Medicaid board by former governors Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam. Last year, he secured a seat in the House of Delegates.
Srinivasan has announced his resignation as a delegate, effective January 7, which will trigger a special election for his District 26 seat. Democratic candidates vying for the seat include JJ Singh, a former Loudoun County Economic Development Commission member, and Arben Istrefi, the county’s School Board Vice Chair. District 26 leans Democratic, with approximately 60% of voters supporting the party in recent elections.
This Senate race represents a crucial opportunity for Democrats to defend their legislative majority and push back against what Srinivasan describes as extreme Republican policies threatening Loudoun families.
