Virginia elections, 2009
Encyclopedia
The following offices were up for election in the United States
Commonwealth of Virginia in the November 2009 general election
:
In addition, candidates must file campaign finance reports with the state or local election boards at certain specified intervals during the campaign year. The three incumbent statewide officeholders and members of the General Assembly are barred by law from fundraising during the annual session of the General Assembly, from mid-January through roughly the end of February.
Sufficiently large political parties (in practice, the Democratic
and Republican
parties) have the option of nominating candidates in primary elections. Nominees not chosen in primaries are selected in a caucus
or convention
process. Incumbent members of Congress
and the General Assembly have the option of choosing their party's nominating method for their office; otherwise, the decision is made by a committee of party officials from the jurisdiction involved.
Persons 18 years old or older on the general election date (born on or before November 3, 1991) may register and vote in both the primary and general elections. Voters in Virginia do not register by party; they have the option of voting in any one party's primary, and may switch at will from one election to the next.
for seats in the United States House of Representatives
, the Senate of Virginia
, and the House of Delegates, based on results of the 2010 United States Census
. This is a highly partisan process, which can determine the balance of power in those bodies for up to ten years. There are three major players in the process:
Former candidates for the Democratic Party nomination:
Former candidates:
Former candidates:
In addition, Bob Hull
(D-Fairfax) was defeated for renomination by Kaye Kory in the June 9 primary.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Commonwealth of Virginia in the November 2009 general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
:
- Three statewide offices – GovernorGovernor of VirginiaThe governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
, Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant Governor of VirginiaThe Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor and Attorney General. The office is currently held by Republican William T. Bolling. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected...
, Attorney GeneralAttorney General of VirginiaThe Attorney General of Virginia is an executive office in the Government of Virginia. Attorneys General are elected for a four-year term in the year following a presidential election . There are no term limits restricting the number of terms someone can serve as Attorney General...
– for four-year terms - Virginia House of DelegatesVirginia House of DelegatesThe Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
, the lower house of the Virginia General AssemblyVirginia General AssemblyThe Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
(100 seats), for two-year terms - Four local constitutional officers each in the larger independent cities – SheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
, Commonwealth's AttorneyCommonwealth's AttorneyCommonwealth's Attorney is the title given to the elected prosecutor of felony crimes in Kentucky and Virginia. Other states refer to similar prosecutors as District Attorney or State's Attorney....
, TreasurerTreasurerA treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
, Commissioner of the RevenueCommissioner of the RevenueThe Commissioner of the Revenue is one of five locally elected whose authority is specifically conveyed in the Virginia Constitution. The other four are Clerk of the Court, Commonwealth's Attorney, Sheriff, and Treasurer....
– for four-year terms
Schedule of election related events
The Virginia State Board of Elections set the following calendar of events for the November 2009 election:- March 11 – Deadline for political party officials to request primary electionPrimary electionA primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
s from the State Board of Elections - April 10 – Filing deadline for primary election candidates
- May 11 – Voter registrationVoter registrationVoter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
deadline for primary election - June 2 – Application deadline for primary election mail-in absentee ballotAbsentee ballotAn absentee ballot is a vote cast by someone who is unable or unwilling to attend the official polling station. Numerous methods have been devised to facilitate this...
- June 6 – Application deadline for primary election in-person absentee ballot
- June 9 – Primary elections; deadline for parties to select candidates by non-primary methods; filing deadline for independent candidates
- October 5 – Voter registration deadline for general election
- October 27 – Application deadline for general election mail-in absentee ballot
- October 31 – Application deadline for general election in-person absentee ballot
- November 3 – General election
In addition, candidates must file campaign finance reports with the state or local election boards at certain specified intervals during the campaign year. The three incumbent statewide officeholders and members of the General Assembly are barred by law from fundraising during the annual session of the General Assembly, from mid-January through roughly the end of February.
Sufficiently large political parties (in practice, the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
parties) have the option of nominating candidates in primary elections. Nominees not chosen in primaries are selected in a caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
or convention
Political convention
In politics, a political convention is a meeting of a political party, typically to select party candidates.In the United States, a political convention usually refers to a presidential nominating convention, but it can also refer to state, county, or congressional district nominating conventions...
process. Incumbent members of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and the General Assembly have the option of choosing their party's nominating method for their office; otherwise, the decision is made by a committee of party officials from the jurisdiction involved.
Persons 18 years old or older on the general election date (born on or before November 3, 1991) may register and vote in both the primary and general elections. Voters in Virginia do not register by party; they have the option of voting in any one party's primary, and may switch at will from one election to the next.
Reapportionment
In 2011 the General Assembly will redraw district boundariesRedistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
for seats in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, the Senate of Virginia
Senate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
, and the House of Delegates, based on results of the 2010 United States Census
United States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
. This is a highly partisan process, which can determine the balance of power in those bodies for up to ten years. There are three major players in the process:
- Senate – barring unforeseen circumstances, the current senators will still be in office in 2011. Democrats currently have a 22-18 majority.
- House of Delegates – Republicans have a 53-45 majority, with 2 independents who caucus with the Republicans. The 2009 election will determine control in 2011.
- Governor – the incumbent, Democrat Tim KaineTim KaineTimothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
, is not allowed to serve successive terms.
Governor
Party nominees:- The Republican Party formally nominated former Attorney General Bob McDonnellBob McDonnellRobert Francis "Bob" McDonnell is an American politician who has been the 71st Governor of Virginia since January 2010. A former lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, McDonnell served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1993 to 2006 and served as Attorney General of Virginia from 2006...
of Virginia BeachVirginia Beach, VirginiaVirginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
, who was unopposed for the nomination, at the May 29–30 state party convention. McDonnell resigned as Virginia's Attorney General on February 3, 2009, to concentrate on the gubernatorial campaign. - The Democratic Party nominated Creigh DeedsCreigh DeedsRobert Creigh Deeds is an American politician who was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Virginia in 2009. He also ran in the 2005 race for Attorney General of Virginia. He was defeated in both of the above races by Bob McDonnell. Deeds lost by just 323 votes in 2005, but was defeated by a...
, Democrat from Bath CountyBath County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 5,048 people, 2,053 households, and 1,451 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 2,896 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...
– Senator since 2002 following 10 years in the House; unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Attorney General in 2005, after he captured the nomination in the Democratic Primary on June 9, 2009
Former candidates for the Democratic Party nomination:
- Terry McAuliffeTerry McAuliffeTerence Richard "Terry" McAuliffe is a longtime leader and political advisor for the United States Democratic Party. He served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005. He served as Co-Chairman of President William Jefferson Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign and also...
, Democrat from Fairfax CountyFairfax County, VirginiaFairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
– political consultant, former Democratic National CommitteeDemocratic National CommitteeThe Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
chair, recently Presidential campaign manager for Hillary Clinton; created a campaign committee on November 11, 2008 - Brian Moran, Democrat from AlexandriaAlexandria, VirginiaAlexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
– 7 term House member and House Democratic caucus chair; younger brother of U.S. Representative Jim MoranJim MoranJames Patrick "Jim" Moran, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in Northern Virginia and includes the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria, all of Arlington County, and a portion of Fairfax County.Jim Moran was...
. Resigned from House of Delegates December 12, 2008 to concentrate on campaign
Lieutenant governor
Party nominees:- Former state Secretary of Finance Jody WagnerJody WagnerJody Moses Wagner is an American politician from Virginia Beach, Virginia. A Democrat, she served as State Treasurer of Virginia from January 2002 to January 2006, and as Virginia Secretary of Finance from January 2006 to August 2008...
, who resigned her position on August 8, 2008 to run, won the June 9 primary to be the Democratic Party nominee. Previously she was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate in Virginia's 2nd congressional districtVirginia's 2nd congressional districtVirginia's second congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It encompasses all of Accomack and Northampton Counties and the City of Virginia Beach and parts of the cities of Norfolk and Hampton...
in 2000. - The Republican Party nominated incumbent Lt. Governor and former State Senator Bill BollingBill BollingWilliam T. "Bill" Bolling is the current Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Running as a Republican, he was elected twice to the position by defeating his Democratic opponent in both the 2005 and 2009 general elections. He is the first Lieutenant Governor in the Commonwealth of Virginia to serve two...
of Hanover CountyHanover County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 86,320 people, 31,121 households, and 24,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 32,196 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
at the party's May 29–30 convention.
Former candidates:
- Jon Bowerbank, a Democratic energy industry engineer/entrepreneur, won election to the Russell CountyRussell County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 30,308 people, 11,789 households, and 8,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile . There were 13,191 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
Board of Supervisors in November 2007 and began campaigning for lieutenant governor in May 2008. After getting his name on the primary ballot, Bowerbank withdrew on May 15, 2009, endorsing Wagner. - Pat Edmonson, a Virginia Beach School Board member, announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination on January 12, 2009, saying voters were "ready for a progressive voice" She failed to file the proper candidate paperwork with the state by the April 10, 2009 deadline, making her ineligible for the primary,
- Patrick C. Muldoon of Giles CountyGiles County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 16,657 people, 6,994 households, and 4,888 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 7,732 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
, an unsuccessful Republican nominee in Virginia's 9th congressional districtVirginia's 9th congressional districtVirginia's ninth congressional district is a United States congressional district in the commonwealth of Virginia, covering much of the southwestern part of the state. The 9th is Virginia's second-largest district in area, covering 8800.24 square miles . The current representative is Morgan Griffith...
in 1996, filed on November 11, 2008, but lost the convention vote to Bolling. - Rich Savage, a Democratic professional campaign consultant from RichmondRichmond, VirginiaRichmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, announced his candidacy on January 2, 2009 but suspended his campaign on March 6, citing financial pressures caused by the worsening economy. - Mike SignerMike SignerMichael "Mike" Signer is an attorney and small businessman, and a democratic activist from Virginia. He is the founder and managing principal of Madison Law & Strategy Group, PLLC, and the Chair and creator of New Dominion Project, a Virginia-based political action committee...
of Arlington, a former deputy counselor to Mark WarnerMark WarnerMark Robert Warner is an American politician and businessman, currently serving in the United States Senate as the junior senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Warner was the 69th governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006 and is the honorary chairman of...
on Homeland Security and National Guard policy and senior strategist for Tom PerrielloTom PerrielloThomas Stuart Price "Tom" Perriello is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes much of Southside Virginia and stretches north to Charlottesville....
, lost the June 9 Democratic primary to Wagner.
Democratic Primary
Official results https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2009/B19D959E-A4DD-4C27-BC08-30C8F2FF2F92/Official/3_s.shtml:General Election
Democratic primary
| Source | Date | Jody Wagner | Pat Edmonson | Michael Signer | Rich Savage | Jon Bowerbank | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | June 6–7, 2009 | 41% | n/a | 12% | n/a | 6% | 42% |
| Suffolk University | June 4, 2009 | 30% | n/a | 7% | n/a | n/a | 62% |
| Public Policy Polling | May 28–31, 2009 | 27% | n/a | 11% | n/a | n/a | 63% |
| Public Policy Polling | May 19–21, 2009 | 21% | n/a | 11% | n/a | n/a | 68% |
| Public Policy Polling | May 1–3, 2009 | 18% | n/a | 7% | n/a | 6% | 69% |
| Public Policy Polling | March 27–29, 2009 | 21% | 4% | 4% | n/a | 4% | 67% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 28–March 1, 2009 | 9% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 73% |
General Election
| Source | Dates Administered | Jody Wagner (D) | Bill Bolling (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | November 1, 2009 | 41% | 54% |
| Survey USA | October 26, 2009 | 42% | 56% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 19, 2009 | 39% | 49% |
| Survey USA | October 19, 2009 | 42% | 56% |
| Washington Post | October 7, 2009 | 40% | 49% |
| Survey USA | October 4, 2009 | 40% | 57% |
| Survey USA | Sept 26-29, 2009 | 41% | 54% |
| Public Policy Polling | Sept 25-28, 2009 | 35% | 43% |
| Clarus Research Group | Sept 10-14, 2009 | 32% | 38% |
| Survey USA | September 3, 2009 | 42% | 52% |
| Public Policy Polling | Aug 28-31, 2009 | 40% | 46% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 31-Aug 3, 2009 | 34% | 48% |
| Survey USA | July 27-July 28, 2009 | 42% | 54% |
| Public Policy Polling | June 30-July 2, 2009 | 40% | 46% |
Attorney general
Party nominees:- The Democratic Party nominee is State Delegate and former assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Steve ShannonSteve ShannonStephen C. Shannon is an American politician. From 2004 to 2009, Shannon represented Virginia’s 35th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He was the 2009 Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Virginia...
of Fairfax County. Shannon announced his candidacy in the fall of 2008, and as the only candidate who filed for the Democratic primary, became the Democratic nominee by default. - The Republican Party nominee is State Senator Ken CuccinelliKen CuccinelliKenneth Thomas 'Ken' Cuccinelli II is a U.S. politician and the Attorney General of Virginia. From 2002 until January 16, 2010 he was a Republican member of the Senate of Virginia, representing the 37th district in Fairfax County...
of Fairfax County; Cuccinelli announced April 1, 2008, and won the nomination at the May 29–30 Republican convention. - Both candidates, Cuccinelli (Class of 1986) and Shannon (Class of 1989), attended Gonzaga College High SchoolGonzaga College High SchoolGonzaga College High School is a Jesuit high school for boys located in Washington, D.C. The school is named in honor of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian saint from the 16th century...
in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Former candidates:
- John L. BrownleeJohn L. BrownleeJohn L. Brownlee is a former United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia and a former Republican candidate for the office of Attorney General of Virginia.-Personal:...
of RoanokeRoanoke, VirginiaRoanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
is a former United States AttorneyUnited States AttorneyUnited States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the Western District of Virginia who resigned on May 16, 2008 to run for the Republican Party nomination, but lost the convention vote to Cuccinelli. - John Fishwick, an attorney from RoanokeRoanoke, VirginiaRoanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
and unsuccessful 1992 Democratic candidate for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, set up a committee to run for the Democratic nomination in October 2008 but withdrew on January 5, 2009. - David M. Foster of ArlingtonArlington County, VirginiaArlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
, an antitrustAntitrustThe United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
lawyerLawyerA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
with Fulbright & Jaworski in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and former Arlington County school board chair ran for the Republican nomination but lost the convention vote to Cuccinelli.
General Election Results
General Election
| Source | Dates Administered | Steve Shannon (D) | Ken Cuccinelli (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | November 1, 2009 | 39% | 55% |
| Survey USA | October 26, 2009 | 41% | 57% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 19, 2009 | 37% | 52% |
| Survey USA | October 19, 2009 | 41% | 56% |
| Washington Post | October 7, 2009 | 40% | 49% |
| Survey USA | October 4, 2009 | 43% | 53% |
| Survey USA | Sept 26-29, 2009 | 42% | 53% |
| Public Policy Polling | Sept 25-28, 2009 | 34% | 43% |
| Clarus Research Group | Sept 10-14, 2009 | 30% | 35% |
| Survey USA | September 3, 2009 | 41% | 54% |
| Public Policy Polling | Aug 28-31, 2009 | 35% | 48% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 31-Aug 3, 2009 | 32% | 45% |
| Survey USA | July 27-July 28, 2009 | 42% | 53% |
| Public Policy Polling | June 30-July 2, 2009 | 38% | 45% |
Special elections
- 81st district (Virginia Beach, ChesapeakeChesapeake, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
) – fifth-term Republican Terrie SuitTerrie SuitTerrie L. Suit is an American politician of the Republican Party. She was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates 2000–2008....
, chair of the General Laws committee, resigned on October 12, 2008 to take a job as a lobbyist. A special election was set for January 6, 2009. Barry KnightBarry Knight (politician)Barry D. Knight is an American politician. A Republican, he was elected a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in a special election on January 6, 2009. He the 81st district, made up of parts of the cities of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.-Early life:Knight was born and raised on a farm...
, a hogPigA pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
farmerFarmerA farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and member of the Virginia Beach Planning Commission, was selected as the Republican nominee in a firehouse primary on November 29, 2008. On December 4, the Democrats nominated John LaCombe, a 24-year-old payday lending activist. Knight won the special election by an 83-17 margin. - 70th district (RichmondRichmond, VirginiaRichmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, HenricoHenrico County, VirginiaHenrico is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2010, Henrico was home to 306,935 people. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and ChesterfieldChesterfield County, VirginiaChesterfield County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, its population was estimated to be 316,236. Chesterfield County is now the fourth-largest municipality in Virginia . Its county seat is Chesterfield...
Counties) – Dwight Clinton JonesDwight Clinton JonesDwight Clinton Jones became the Mayor of Richmond, Virginia on January 1, 2009. A member of the Democratic Party, he is also a Baptist minister. Jones was born in Philadelphia and moved to Richmond after attending Virginia Union University...
, a Democrat in his eighth term, was elected mayor of Richmond on November 4, 2008. This special election was also scheduled for January 6, 2009. On December 6, 2008, the Democratic Party nominated Delores McQuinnDelores McQuinnRev. Delores L. McQuinn is an American politician of the Democratic Party. On January 6, 2009 she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 70th district, made up of parts of Chesterfield and Henrico Counties and the city of Richmond...
, a member of Richmond City Council, for the seat. McQuinn was unopposed in the special election. - 46th district (Alexandria, Fairfax County) – Brian Moran resigned his seat December 12, 2008 to concentrate on his campaign for Governor. A special election was called for January 13, 2009. Both major parties held nominating caucuses on December 16, 2008. The Democratic nominee was Charniele HerringCharniele HerringCharniele L. Herring is an American politician. A Democrat, she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in a special election on January 13, 2009. She the 46th district, made up of parts of Fairfax County and the city of Alexandria....
, an attorney from Alexandria. The Republicans nominated Joe Murray, an aide to U. S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Joe WilsonJoe Wilson (U.S. politician)Addison Graves Wilson, Sr., most commonly known as Joe Wilson , is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party...
of South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Herring won the election by 16 votes; the House, under Republican control, refused to seat her pending a recount requested by Murray. Herring was finally seated after a recount on January 26.
Retirements
, ten House members had announced they would not run for re-election:- Albert C. EisenbergAl EisenbergAlbert C. Eisenberg is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He was a member of the Arlington County Board from 1984 to 1999 and Virginia House of Delegates from 2004 to his retirement in 2010...
(D-Arlington) on January 22 - Frank D. Hargrove, Sr.Frank HargroveFrank D. Hargrove, Sr. is an American politician of the Republican Party. From 1982 to 2010 he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. He represented the 55th district in Hanover County....
(R-Hanover) on January 26 - Jeffrey M. FrederickJeff FrederickJeffrey M. Frederick is a former member of the General Assembly of Virginia. A Republican, he served three terms in the Virginia House of Delegates and also served as chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia and as a member of the Republican National Committee from May 2008 to April...
(R-Woodbridge) on February 13. - Kenneth R. MelvinKenneth R. MelvinKenneth Ronald "Ken" Melvin is an American politician, lawyer and jurist. He served as a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Portsmouth from 1985 to 2009...
(D-Portsmouth) on February 24 - William H. Fralin, Jr.William FralinWilliam H. Fralin, Jr. is an American politician. A Republican, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in November 2003...
(R-Roanoke) on February 28 - Clarke N. HoganClarke HoganClarke N. Hogan is an American politician of the Republican Party. From 2002 to 2010 he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates...
(R-Halifax) on March 9.. - Former Minority Leader Franklin P. HallFranklin P. HallFranklin P. "Frank" Hall is an American politician. A Democrat, he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates 1976–2009, serving as minority leader 2002–07....
(D-Richmond) on March 28. Hall announced his retirement effective April 14, 2009. Governor Kaine immediately announced Hall's appointment to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, effective the same date - Steve ShannonSteve ShannonStephen C. Shannon is an American politician. From 2004 to 2009, Shannon represented Virginia’s 35th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He was the 2009 Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Virginia...
(D-Fairfax) is the Democratic nominee for Attorney General. - Kris AmundsonKristen J. AmundsonKristen J. "Kris" Amundson is a former delegate to the Virginia General Assembly. A Democrat, she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in November 1999. She represented the 44th district in Fairfax County...
(D-Fairfax) announced her retirement on June 24, 2009 - Chris SaxmanChris SaxmanChristopher B. "Chris" Saxman is an American politician of the Republican Party. He is a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 20th District from 2002 to his retirement in 2010...
(R-Staunton) announced his retirement on July 17, 2009
In addition, Bob Hull
Robert D. Hull
Robert Dale "Bob" Hull is an American politician. A Democrat, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in a December 1992 special election...
(D-Fairfax) was defeated for renomination by Kaye Kory in the June 9 primary.
External links
- Voter resources
- Virginia Voter Registration Form - Deadline to register is Monday, October 5
- Voter Registration Information - Find out if you are registered at the Election and Registration Information System
- Polling Place Search
- Imagine Election - Find out about the people on your ballot, based on your zip code
- Virginia Public Access Project - Campaign finance information about candidates, committees, donors, etc.
- Campaign websites
- Creigh Deeds for Governor - Democratic
- Bob McDonnell for Governor - Republican
- Bill Bolling for Lieutenant Governor - Republican
- Jody Wagner for Lieutenant Governor - Democratic
- Ken Cuccinelli for Attorney General - Republican
- Steve Shannon for Attorney General - Democratic