The special elections are to fill two seats in Virginia’s House of Delegates that were held by Democrats, one of which resigned to run for governor and the other to become a judge.

The two-term Democratic lawmaker has fought for gender equality, leading the charge on the Equal Rights Amendment. She announced Tuesday she would step down to focus on her campaign to be Virginia’s first female governor.

Superintendent J. H. Binford Peay III’s announcement came after the governor launched an investigation of the Virginia Military Institute in response to Black cadets’ reports of discrimination.

In its first virtual state convention, the Democratic Party of Virginia convened a panel on criminal justice reform and appeared poised to make changes in an upcoming legislative special session.