Virginia State Senate Pickup Opportunity for Dems About to Open Up?

According to Jim Nolan of the RTD, “Breaking: State Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan retiring at the end of his term in 2015. Senate power struggle likely to ensue.” If true, that could open up a serious, major Democratic pickup opportunity for 2015. Keep in mind that Dems need to hold all their incumbent seats and to pick up a net of one seat to regain control of the Virginia State Senate, so this one could be crucial for Medicaid expansion and just about anything else you care about. As you can see from the graphic below (click to “embiggen”), Watkins holds a district that was won by Mark Herring in 2013, and is the “bluest” of all the Virginia State Senate districts currently held by Republicans. Democrats, start your engines…now! 🙂

P.S. It yet again demonstrates how far-far right the Virginia GOP has lurched, when someone as conservative as John Watkins feels like he would have lost a Republican primary, so better get out while the getting is good.

UPDATE: According to WTVR reporter Joe St. George, “Democratic sources told CBS 6 reporter Joe St. George $2 million could be spent on the 2015 election and that Jon Baliles,  a Richmond City Councilman, could be considering entering the race as well as Chesterfield County  Supervisor Dan Gecker.”