Democratic Del. Danica Roem defeated Republican Bill Woolf in a bid for Virginia Senate, dealing a blow to Republican chances of flipping control of the upper chamber.

Roem, a journalist and state delegate, beat Woolf, a first-time candidate who spent most of his career in law enforcement, to represent the Manassas-area 30th District.

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The northern Virginia-D.C. exurb's decision to send a Democrat to Richmond means the party is one step closer to keeping control of the state Senate, which has thwarted Gov. Glenn Youngkin's (R-VA) agenda.

Woolf highlighted crime as a key component of his campaign, leaning on his law enforcement bona fides. "What we heard overwhelmingly was concerns about crime, the rise in crime in Prince William County in particular, with violent crime up 70%. People are concerned about that," he said, according to Inside NOVA.

He also focused on the rising cost of living in his district as well as parental rights.

Roem, a biological man who identifies as a woman, became the first transgender person to be elected to a state legislature in the country in 2018.

The Virginia Democrat focused the campaign on transportation, street congestion, and data center development.

Abortion, one of the most prominent topics this cycle, came into this race as well, with Woolf supporting Youngkin's push for a 15-week limit with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother, a proposal that previously failed in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Roem supported the current law, which blocks abortion at 26 weeks.

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Woolf came into Election Day with endorsements from Youngkin, Attorney General Jason Miyares, and Prince William County supervisor Yesli Vega, who came close to unseating Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) last year in Congress.

Roem had endorsements from Planned Parenthood, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Washington Post.