Tuesday's general election brought two new attorneys and a few shakeups to Dover, as Democrats tightened their grip on the General Assembly.

Voters elected lawyers William Bush, D-Dover, and Krista Griffith, D-Fairfax, to serve in the state House of Representatives, boosting the chamber's total attorney count to three.

Griffith, a former prosecutor who served as deputy attorney general under Beau Biden and Matt Denn, edged out Republican incumbent and minority whip Deborah Hudson by fewer than 800 votes to win the District 12 seat Hudson had held since 1994. Bush, a House and private-practice attorney, picked up 58 percent of the vote against Republican challenger Robin Hayes of Cheswold in District 29 to hold a seat vacated by Democrat Trey Paradee, of Dover, who won his bid for the state Senate.

Their victories add to the roster of attorneys serving in House, even following the retirement of Rep. Melanie George Smith, a partner with Richards, Layton & Finger, who had spent nearly 16 years in public service.

In the Senate, Democrats extended their narrow majority to 12-9 with the surprise victory of political newcomer Laura Sturgeon, D-Wilmington, over Gregory Lavelle, R-Sharpley, the GOP's minority whip. On Wednesday, Senate Democrats elected Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, a counsel at Morris James and one of the caucus' more progressive members, to serve as the majority whip when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.

The increase gives an advantage to Democrats, as they hope to pass a number of gun-control bills, criminal justice reform initiatives and other measures in the second leg of the legislative session.

However, lawmakers will have to sort through some significant turnover caused by a number of high-profile retirements, including on the Senate's influential Judicial and Community Affairs committee. The chamber's busiest committee lost its chair, Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington, and longtime legislator Sen. Robert Marshall, D-Wilmington, both of whom had announced they would not seek re-election this year.

“The judicial committee is one I'm going to have to look at,” said President Pro Tempore Sen. David B. McBride, D-Hawk's Nest, who is responsible for making committee assignments.

McBride said the judicial committee was assigned more bills than any other Senate panel last year, and the subject matter tends to touch on some of the most controversial issues before the legislature.

Like the House, Senate membership includes three practicing attorneys. But McBride said the backgrounds of his members would play only a limited role in committee selections because of the interest and input the panel typically receives from lawyers and other citizens at hearings. Lawmakers also have a chance to weigh in on bills during regular caucus meetings, he said.

Committee assignments are expected to be announced on Jan. 8, the General Assembly's first day back in session.

Meanwhile, corporate attorneys will miss Smith's experience acting as the primary liaison between Delaware State Bar Association's corporation law section and members of the General Assembly when it comes time to introduce an annual package of amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law in late March.

Smith, a Democrat from Bear, was instrumental in explaining the changes to her colleagues in both chambers and defending the measures when they came up for debate. It was not clear this week who, if anyone, might step in to fill that role next year, but the group has a lobbyist in Dover, who helps DSBA-backed bills navigate the legislative process.

P. Clarkson Collins Jr., chair of the corporation law section, declined to comment on future plans with the legislature.

Leadership in the House majority will remain much the same, with Reps. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, and Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, returning to their respective posts as House speaker and majority leader. Rep. John Larry Mitchell Jr., who has served on the joint finance and bond bill committees, was selected for the first time to serve as majority whip.

McBride will return as president pro tempore in the Senate, a position he has held since 2017. And Sen. Nicole Poore, D-New Castle, will succeed Henry as majority leader.