A former delegate has ousted a controversial Virginia legislative from his senate seat.

Former Del. Lashrecse Aird defeated Sen. Joseph Morrissey with 69.55% of more than 20,000 votes cast across the state’s new 13th Senate District. 

Aird carried Surry County with 83.8% of the vote. Surry accounts for 3.67% of the district’s voters. 

Aird lost narrowly to Del. Kim Taylor, R-Petersburg, in 2021. Morrissey, who currently represents the 16th Senate District, was moved to the new 13th District during the 2021 redistricting process.

Aird largely focused her campaign on abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning its landmark Roe v. Wade decision last year. She reported a $5,000 non-monetary contribution from Planned Parenthood. Morrissey also stated during his campaign that he believes abortion should be “between a woman and her physician.”  

Morrissey’s time in the General Assembly as a delegate and later senator had been riddled with scandals concerning his relationship with an intern whom he later married.

“I want to thank everyone here for your refusal to accept the status quo. Thank you for believing in better, and for being willing to fight for it day in and day out these past few months,” said Aird.

Morrissey did not immediately respond to the Times’ request for comments.

Aird in November will face Eric Ditri, who is running as the sole Republican candidate for the 13th Senate District.