Parties stand pat in Assembly

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The Republicans retained control of the Virginia General Assembly when voters elected all 140 members of the House and Senate, in most cases settling hotly contested races by returning incumbents to Richmond.

Based on preliminary returns, Republican Party officials expected to improve their slim majority in the Senate by one seat and possibly lose two seats from their large majority in the House.

"Virginians sent a clear message that they continue to support the Republican Party's leadership as a majority party," said state Republican Party spokesman Shawn Smith.

The party appeared to pick up a Senate seat with the victory of Jeannemarie A. Devolites in the 34th District. With 61.7 percent of the precincts reporting, Mrs. Devolites received 53.9 percent of the vote over Democrat Ronald R. Christian.

The two House seats the party expected to lose were "competitive, open seats," Mr. Smith said. They included the House seat vacated by Mrs. Devolites to run for the Senate and the seat left by retiring Delegate Robert S. Bloxom of the 100th District.

Republicans had been expected to maintain or increase their majorities in the General Assembly because the new voting districts favor the party and about two-thirds of the races are running uncontested.

More Republican voters in some of the once-heavily Democratic districts in Northern Virginia were expected to help the party. However, the redistricting also helped some Democrats because the changes further centralized the party's power in some traditional strongholds.

The near 80-degree temperatures brought voters to polls in short sleeves and other summer clothing. Elections officials reported a steady stream of Northern Virginia voters arriving at the polls. However, the turnout was expected to be low because this was a non-presidential election.

Sen. Linda T. "Toddy" Puller, Fairfax Democrat, won a tough race against Republican antitax candidate Christian N. Braunlich.