Virginia Democrats see highest number of primary challengers in two decades

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Democrats who have transformed Virginia at whiplash speed over the past two years will be defending their full control of the statehouse this fall.

But first, they are trying to get an usually high number of House incumbents on the other side of primary challenges.

Fourteen House Democrats are spending and organizing against challenges from their own party this year, compared with only three Republican incumbents.

According to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project, the number of Democratic primary challengers is far higher this year than any other since at least 1999.