Democrat Eugene Vindman wins the Virginia House race, holding off Republican Derrick Anderson

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Democrat Eugene Vindman has won his bid for the Virginia House of Representatives, keeping the suburban Northern Virginia seat blue following Rep. Abigail Spanberger's resignation.

According to the Associated Press, Vindman is leading Republican Derrick Anderson 51.1% to 48.9% with 98% of votes counted.

The race in Virginia's 7th District was seen as one of Republicans' best chances to lose a House seat this cycle, moving one seat closer to protecting – or potentially expanding – the Republican majority in the House.

Anderson was in a close race against Vindman, who gained national attention in 2019 as a whistleblower in the first impeachment attempt against President-elect Donald Trump, which was sparked by the Ukrainian-born candidate's reporting on a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Despite his national prominence, Vindman campaigned under the radar, participating in only one debate against Anderson.

When he finally sat down for his first interview of the campaign cycle, he gave the local television station just seven minutes. He spent the interview reciting talking points and dodging questions about his military career amid accusations that he had glossed over them.

Anderson pointed to Vindman's working relationship with his identical twin brother Alexander, who famously testified in Trump's first impeachment inquiry, as a potential conflict of interest.

Eugene Vindman declined to answer the Post's questions about his business dealings in Ukraine, which he began after making more than a dozen taxpayer-funded trips to the war-torn country.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson gathered in the Virginia House of Representatives on this and another close eve of district elections and told the Post that “the path to preserving and expanding our majority runs right through Virginia.”

Johnson appeared at events to rally support for Anderson and endangered freshman Rep. Jen Kiggans, who retained her seat in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District.

“Green Beret Derrick Anderson has served our country and will be a strong voice for Virginia’s 7th District to secure our border, repair our economy and restore peace through strength,” Johnson told The Post.