Virginia Democrats never thought they’d have to fill the shoes of Rep. Jennifer Wexton, who announced her surprise retirement due to progressive supranuclear palsy.

But her seat is also a crucial linchpin for control of Congress. Holding onto this seat — which President Joe Biden carried by 18.5 points in 2020 but that Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin came within 2 points of winning in 2021 — will be key to Democrats’ aims to win back the House majority in 2024.

Even if Virginia Democrats had no plans to replace Wexton, who received an outpouring of bipartisan well wishes, several will inevitably enter the race for the seat to succeed her. At least five different Democrats are rumored to be interested in the seat, according to people familiar with the state of the race granted anonymity to speak candidly.

In many ways, the district Wexton represents is emblematic of modern political trends in Virginia, a diverse state that rapidly flipped blue but remains competitive. Wexton first won the seat in 2018, flipping it into Democratic control for the first time since 1980. Her victory was part of the blue wave that year across the country that began to tip suburban areas toward the Democratic Party in the early days of Donald Trump’s presidency. In doing so, she ousted two-term Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock, an ally of former President George W. Bush who has since emerged as a vocal Trump critic.

“Congresswoman Wexton made these elections and winning this seat look easy,” said state Del. Suhas Subramanyam, who is running for state Senate in a district overlapping part of Wexton’s congressional seat. He added that the upcoming November elections will also be a good indication of the 2024 race.

Wexton speaks at her election night party after defeating Rep. Barbara Comstock on Nov. 6, 2018, in Dulles, Va.