The US state of Virginia is just about as close to Washington DC as you can be, and even contains parts of the Washington Metropolitan Area.  

Washington is home to a governing elite, as well as an underclass who serves them (predominantly black).  Virginia (and Maryland) are where the public servants who run the machinery of government predominantly live.  

In Australian terms, an election in Virginia is a bit like an election in the federal seat of Eden-Monaro, which is close to the seat of government and so includes a lot of public servants, nested amongst more conservative voters, and while it can swing, it has been gradually becoming more progressive.  

What makes Virginia currently significant is that it...