Tuesday was a big night for Democrats in Virginia, as the three statewide candidates—Ralph Northam for governor, Justin Fairfax for lieutenant governor and Mark Herring for attorney general—were all swept into office.

In the House of Delegates, Democrats gained at least 14 seats, with four other races so close that they qualify for a recount, according to press reports Wednesday morning.

Locally, the more conservative-minded voters in the Gloucester-Mathews area bucked that trend, with both counties going heavily for GOP hopefuls Ed Gillespie, Jill Vogel and John Adams.

Meanwhile, Gloucester, Mathews and the rest of the Middle Peninsula returned Republican Keith Hodges to his 98th District seat in the House of Delegates.

Hodges, of Urbanna, took 65.07 percent of the vote districtwide to defeat his Democratic opponent, Sheila Crowley of Port Haywood, who received 34.83 percent. Hodges did slightly better in Gloucester and Mathews, winning by 68 to 32 percent margin...