Wins in two Northern Virginia districts gave Virginia Democrats control of the state Senate in Tuesday’s elections, continuing the party’s resurgence after its banishment to legislative irrelevance in 1999.

In the region’s most-expensive and most-vitriolic race, Chap Petersen trounced Republican incumbent Jeannemarie Devolites Davis by 11 points in the 34th district, which includes Fairfax City and Vienna. Petersen won every precinct in Vienna, where Davis and her husband, U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, live.

George Barker’s 3-point victory over Clifton Republican Jay O’Brien gave the Democrats the 21st seat the party needed for a majority. The Democrats narrowly missed picking up additional seats in Fredericksburg and Loudoun County.

“I can’t wait to get back to Richmond to work with all of these Democratic newcomers,” Gov. Tim Kaine told a victory celebration at the McLean Hilton.

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In the 37th Senate district, which covers parts of Western Fairfax County, Republican incumbent Ken Cuccinelli holds a 91-vote (.23 percent) lead over Democrat Janet Oleszek, but Democratic strategists expect there will be a recount today.

Democrats added swelled their ranks in the House of Delegates to 44, including victories in Northern Virginia by Margi Vanderhye and Paul Nichols.

“The Republican party had problems putting a moderate message out in Northern Virginia,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “The party has consistently nominated conservative candidates and as President Bush is becoming more unpopular, it has been very poisonous for their legislative candidates.”

In other hot local House races, Republicans Tim Hugo and Tom Rust, and Democrats Chuck Caputo and David Poisson fended off pesky challenges to keep their seats.

In late local races, Democrat challenger John Foust dethroned Fairfax County Supervisor Joan Dubois and Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart kept his seat by besting Democrat Sharon Pandak by 11 points.

jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com