Politics & Government
Roem, Sewell Secure Delegate Seats From 13th, 51st Districts
A trio of women, Danica Roem, Michelle Maldonado, and Briana Sewell, held leads in their races for delegate on Tuesday night.

As of 1:19 a.m. on Wednesday, many races were not decided. This story will be updated on Wednesday.
MANASSAS, VA — A trio of women are leading their races to represent the Manassas area in the Virginia House of Delegates, according to unofficial results. Incumbent Del. Danica Roem secured re-election in the 13th district, and Briana Sewell won her race to represent the 51st district, according to the AP. Michelle Maldonado led in her race in the 50th district, according to unofficial election results.
Del. Lee Carter currently represents the 50th district in the Virginia House of Delegates; however he did not win the Democratic nomination for the seat in June. Instead, Michelle Maldonado earned the Democratic nomination and faces off against Republican Steve Pleickhardt.
Find out what's happening in Manassasfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The 51st district is centered around Lake Ridge and stretches west towards Bristow and Manassas. The seat is currently held by Del. Ayala, who is not running for reelection as she runs for lieutenant governor. Instead, Democrat Briana Sewell and Republican Tim Cox are vying for the seat.
Read more: Manassas Election 2021: Candidates, How And Where To Vote
Find out what's happening in Manassasfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to unofficial results, Roem holds 54 percent of votes with 22 of the area's 24 precincts reporting results. The Associated Press declared Roem the winner in her race on Tuesday.
Unofficial results in the 50th district show Michelle Maldonado with a lead over Steve Pleickhardt. Maldonado holds 55 percent of votes with 19 of 21 precincts reporting results.
In the 51st district, Briana Sewell holds a lead with 55 percent of votes, according to unofficial results. So far, 23 of the district's 24 precincts have reported results. The Associated Press declared that Sewell won Tuesday's race.
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Reproductive rights were just one of the issues that voters considered in Tuesday's elections. James Pryor, a college student at a nearby university, said concerns about reproductive rights encouraged him and his girlfriend to vote.
"We're both voting because of the abortion laws," Pryor said on Tuesday. "We're afraid they're going to get overturned like they did in Texas."
Angela Soto, a voter from Dale City, shared similar sentiments. "No man should be telling a woman what to do with her body," Soto said. Soto also said she voted for candidates who planned to raise the raise the minimum wage.
We will update this story as results come in. Subscribe to free News Alerts for election results.
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