Del. McDiarmid is being challenged by anti-abortion advocate Jeanne

Del. McDiarmid is being challenged by anti-abortion advocate Jeanne P. Morrison of Falls Church and (Quillen by Republican Gary Waddell of Lee, a coal operator.

In- other Democratic primary action Tuesday, f-cmer Del. Thomas Glascock of Hampton defeated the Rev. M. Ivory Jefferson for the 92nd District seat being vacated by Bagiev. In the mountainous 18th District, incumbent William T. Wilson of Covington turned back the challenge of Claude D. Carter while in the Northern Neck's 99th District incumbent W. Tayloe Murphy Jr. of Montross overwhelmingly defeated Frederick G. Jensen of Irvington.

The only Republican primary was held in Northern Virginia's 39th District. Part-time pastor Richard N. Vannoy of Fairfax defeated Robet E. Murphy of Springfield, and will challenge incumbent Democrat Vivian Watts of Annandale in November.

The voter reaction to this race, by the way. was something less than tumultuous. Vannoy received 390 votes while 350 went to Murphy. It was one of the lowest turnouts for a House of Delegates primary on record.

But the bottom line outcome of the 1985 primaries is that although they were few in number, they will have a significant impact on the organization of the House of Delegates when the lawmakers return to Richmond in January.

It is also safe to say that the influence of Northern Virginia in Mr. Jefferson's marbled halls will be considerably enhanced if the chairmanship of both the Appropriations Committee and the Committee on Counties. Cities and Towns move from the Tidewater to Fairfax and Arlington.

That shift alone would be enough to make these election results notable. But for downstate legislators who are constantly concerned about any erosion of their turf it was also a frustrating and perhaps a little frightening primary season.