Election day in Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia

By Veronica Rocha and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN

Updated 12:04 p.m. ET, November 6, 2019
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12:53 a.m. ET, November 6, 2019

What you need to know about Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia's elections

Democrat Andy Beshear speaks to supporters on Nov. 5 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Democrat Andy Beshear speaks to supporters on Nov. 5 in Louisville, Kentucky. John Sommers II/Getty Images

In case you missed it, here's what you need to know about Tuesday's elections in Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia:

  • Kentucky's governor's race: Democratic state Attorney General Andy Beshear claimed victory in the race, Republican Gov. Matt Bevin said he is not conceding. CNN has not made a projection in the race. Bevin had aligned himself with President Trump, who won the state by 30 percentage points in 2016.
  • So what's next? There is no automatic recount of a governor’s race in Kentucky. A candidate can request a recanvass of the vote, but not a full recount. A recanvass is a reprint of the receipts from voting machines to check. There is no threshold to request a recanvass. Certified votes from the counties are due to the secretary of state’s office on Friday. The deadline to request the recanvass to the secretary of state’s office is Nov. 12.
  • Democrats win big in Virginia: CNN projected that the party will flip both chambers of the Virginia legislature, taking control of the state Senate and the House of Delegates. It has huge implications and opens the door for state lawmakers to pass measures Republicans have long opposed, including gun legislation reform and raising the minimum wage. It also positions the party to control the next round of redistricting ahead of the 2020 census.
  • Mississippi's governor's race: CNN projected that Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves will defeat Attorney General Jim Hood, a Democrat. Hood spoke at his election watch party on Tuesday, congratulating Reeves on his victory.
  • What Trump said: Trump tweeted his congratulations to Reeves. "Our big Rally on Friday night moved the numbers from a tie to a big WIN. Great reaction under pressure Tate!" Trump won Mississippi by about 18 points in 2016.

You can find election results for Kentucky here, and Mississippi here.

12:21 a.m. ET, November 6, 2019

A cyclist who flipped off Trump's motorcade wins local office in Virginia

From CNN's Paul LeBlanc

Juli Briskman, who is projected to become supervisor for the Algonkian District in Loudoun County, poses on Oct.17, 2019, in Sterling, Virginia.
Juli Briskman, who is projected to become supervisor for the Algonkian District in Loudoun County, poses on Oct.17, 2019, in Sterling, Virginia. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

The cyclist who flipped off President Trump's motorcade in 2017, and lost her job because of it, has won her bid for local office in Virginia.

CNN projected that Juli Briskman on Tuesday night won her race to become supervisor for the Algonkian District in Loudoun County, Virginia.

The win comes just over two years after a photo of Briskman flipping off the President's motorcade as it made its way back to the White House from Trump's golf course in Sterling, Virginia, went viral in October 2017. Her lawyer said she was forced to resign from her job as a marketing executive at Akima LLC over the photo.

Briskman was able to leverage her viral rebuke of Trump into Tuesday's win with a campaign that made the image central to her political message.

12:07 a.m. ET, November 6, 2019

Trump congratulates Tate Reeves for Mississippi win

President Trump is tweeting tonight about the election results in Kentucky and Mississippi.

Trump gave some credit to Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, who he said "picked up at least 15 points in last day." But Trump added that it was "perhaps not enough."

Democrat Andy Beshear has claimed victory in the governor's race, but Bevin said he is not conceding.

Trump also tweeted congratulations to Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, who is projected to win the Mississippi's governor's race tonight against the state's attorney general Jim Hood.

12:06 a.m. ET, November 6, 2019

Jim Hood congratulates Tate Reeves on his victory in Mississippi

From CNN's Nicole Williams

Jim Hood.
Jim Hood. WLBT

Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood spoke at his election watch party tonight, congratulating Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves on his victory.

"Looks like the next governor will be Tate Reeves, I just called Tate and congratulate him on a good race," Hood told the audience at his headquarters. "I’ll be praying for him and his administration and I intend to work with them in the transition."

Background on this race: President Trump endorsed Reeves and held a rally for him in Tupelo, Mississippi, ahead of today's election. Vice President Mike Pence made an appearance at a rally in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Monday.

The Republican Party currently controls the governor's office and majorities in both state legislative chambers in Mississippi.

11:51 p.m. ET, November 5, 2019

What we know about the Democrats' win in Virginia

Democrats will now control Virginia's Senate, House of Delegates and governor's office for the first time in more than two decades.

Earlier tonight, CNN projected that Democrats will win at least 21 seats in the Virginia state Senate. They also flipped the House of Delegates.

Democrat Ralph Northam has held his seat at the governor's office since 2017 when he defeated Republican Ed Gillespie.

12:08 a.m. ET, November 6, 2019

Republican Tate Reeves wins governor's race in Mississippi, CNN projects

From CNN's Steve Brusk and Dianne Gallagher

Tate Reeves.
Tate Reeves. WJTV

Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves will defeat the state's attorney general Jim Hood, a Democrat, in the Mississippi governor’s race, CNN projects.

Hood just conceded in remarks to supporters. Reeves will succeed fellow Republican Phil Bryant.

The crowd at Reeves' headquarters ran to the front of the room while erupting into applause when a local news station projected he would win the governor's race. They shouted "Reeves!"

More about the race: President Trump endorsed Reeves and held a rally for him in Tupelo, Mississippi, ahead of Tuesday's election. The Republican Party currently controls the governor's office and majorities in both state legislative chambers in Mississippi.

11:45 p.m. ET, November 5, 2019

Danica Roem, Virginia's first openly transgender lawmaker, claims victory in reelection bid

Danica Roem
Danica Roem

Danica Roem, Virginia's first openly transgender candidate, is claiming victory tonight.

Roem thanked voters for reelecting her and having the confidence they've shown in her team.

Roem rose to prominence in 2017 after she defeated incumbent delegate Bob Marshall, who had been elected 13 times over 26 years, according to Marshall's website. 

More on Roem: She is the first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature in the US, according to Monica Roberts of the TransGriot blog, which covers issues in the transgender community. Althea Garrison, elected in Massachusetts, was the first openly transgender person to serve in a state legislature, but did not campaign as an openly transgender person during her race in 1992.

11:37 p.m. ET, November 5, 2019

Virginia woman who lost glass-bowl election projected to win seat over incumbent

From CNN's Connor Spielmaker

Shelly Simonds.
Shelly Simonds. WTKR

Shelly Simonds, who lost a “lot draw” in the 2017 race for Virginia’s House of Delegates, ousted incumbent David Yancey tonight, CNN projects.

The 2017 quirk stemmed from a 1705 Virginia law, which the Virginia Board of Elections used to settle the 11,608-to-11,608 tie between Yancey and Simonds for the seat.

“I think the most important thing here is that every vote counts, and I hope everyone in Newport News writes that on their heart…and remembers that for 2020," Simonds said, according CNN affiliate WTKR.

11:31 p.m. ET, November 5, 2019

Candidates in Mississippi governor's race remain upbeat

From CNN's Jason Morris

The atmosphere at Attorney General Jim Hood's headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi, remains upbeat as they wait for results. 

The Democratic candidate is currently mingling with supporters in a small ballroom area at the King Edward hotel. The crowd, much like at Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves' headquarters, is eating and drinking while the results crawl in. 

Hood is currently behind Reeves, but several large counties are still not in.