Get ready for the most expensive election season every seen by Virginia voters.  There is so much more at stake than just this current slate of elections.  That’s the story in Virginia in 2009, and many others states in 2010.  From Richmond Times Dispatch:

The major political parties are competing for 58 House of Delegates seats this fall — an increase from recent election cycles.

An unofficial tally by the Virginia Public Access Project shows 68 of the 100 seats will be contested, up from 41 in 2007 and 49 in 2005. But 10 of this year’s contests involve a major-party candidate running against an independent. Independents generally have little chance of beating a major-party incumbent.

The State Board of Elections will announce the official candidacies Wednesday.

Republicans, who hold 53 seats in the House to the Democrats’ 45, were more active in recruiting candidates for the fall election. The two independent incumbents in the House usually vote with Republicans, so Democrats need to win six seats to gain a majority.

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