Virginia gubernatorial election, 2005
Encyclopedia
The Virginia gubernatorial election of 2005 was a race for the Governor of Virginia
, United States
, held on November 8, 2005, and won by Democrat
Tim Kaine
. Virginia
is the only state in the United States
to prohibit governor
s from serving successive terms, so the popular incumbent, Mark R. Warner, could not run for reelection.
candidate Russ Potts
as a possible spoiler candidate. Kaine remained behind in polls throughout most of the campaign, at one point 10 points behind Kilgore, but captured a slight lead in the final weeks of the campaign. Kaine led in some polls for the first time in October 2005, and held his lead into the final week before the election.
Kaine closely associated himself with popular outgoing Democratic Governor Mark Warner
during his campaign; he won his race by a slightly larger margin than Warner. He promised homeowner tax relief, centrist fiscal leadership, and universal pre-kindergarten. . A number of factors, from the sagging poll numbers of President George W. Bush
to a public disgust over the death penalty ads run by Kilgore, have also been cited as key to his decisive win.
The election was the most expensive in Virginia history, with the candidates combined raising over $42 million
While the previous Democratic Governor, Mark Warner
, was credited with doing especially well for a Democrat in rural areas of the commonwealth, Kaine's win featured surprising triumphs in traditionally Republican areas such as Virginia Beach
, Chesapeake
, and the Northern Virginia exurbs of Prince William County
and Loudoun County
, as well as impressive showings in Democratic strongholds such as Richmond
and Norfolk
.
Governor of Virginia
The 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....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, held on November 8, 2005, and won by Democrat
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...
Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy 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...
. Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
is the only state in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to prohibit governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
s from serving successive terms, so the popular incumbent, Mark R. Warner, could not run for reelection.
Democratic Party
- 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...
, Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant governorA lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
and former 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...
MayorMayorIn many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Republican Party
- Jerry Kilgore, former Attorney General of VirginiaAttorney 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...
- George Fitch, Mayor of WarrentonWarrenton, VirginiaWarrenton is a town in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census, and 14,634 at the 2010 estimate. It is the county seat of Fauquier County. Public schools in the town include Fauquier High School, Warrenton Middle School, Taylor Middle School and two...
.
Independents
- Russ PottsRuss PottsH. Russell "Russ" Potts Jr. was a Republican state senator in Virginia from Winchester. He was an independent candidate for governor in 2005, receiving 2.22 percent of the vote in a race won by Democrat Tim Kaine. He chaired the Senate Education and Health Committee in the Virginia General Assembly...
, Virginia State Senator from WinchesterWinchester, VirginiaWinchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
Campaign
The general election itself was expected to be close with IndependentIndependent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate Russ Potts
Russ Potts
H. Russell "Russ" Potts Jr. was a Republican state senator in Virginia from Winchester. He was an independent candidate for governor in 2005, receiving 2.22 percent of the vote in a race won by Democrat Tim Kaine. He chaired the Senate Education and Health Committee in the Virginia General Assembly...
as a possible spoiler candidate. Kaine remained behind in polls throughout most of the campaign, at one point 10 points behind Kilgore, but captured a slight lead in the final weeks of the campaign. Kaine led in some polls for the first time in October 2005, and held his lead into the final week before the election.
Kaine closely associated himself with popular outgoing Democratic Governor Mark Warner
Mark Warner
Mark 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...
during his campaign; he won his race by a slightly larger margin than Warner. He promised homeowner tax relief, centrist fiscal leadership, and universal pre-kindergarten. . A number of factors, from the sagging poll numbers of President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to a public disgust over the death penalty ads run by Kilgore, have also been cited as key to his decisive win.
The election was the most expensive in Virginia history, with the candidates combined raising over $42 million
Opinion Polls
| Source | Date | Kaine (D) | Kilgore (R) | Potts (I) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survey USA | November 7, 2005 | 50% | 45% | 4% |
| Mason-Dixon | November 4, 2005 | 45% | 44% | 4% |
| Rasmussen | November 4, 2005 | 49% | 46% | 2% |
| Roanoke College | November 2, 2005 | 44% | 36% | 5% |
| Washington Post | October 30, 2005 | 47% | 44% | 4% |
| Rasmussen | October 28, 2005 | 46% | 44% | 4% |
| Mason-Dixon | October 25, 2005 | 42% | 44% | 5% |
| Rasmussen | October 24, 2005 | 46% | 48% | 2% |
| Hotline | October 18, 2005 | 40% | 38% | 5% |
| Survey USA | October 17, 2005 | 47% | 45% | 4% |
| Rasmussen | October 12, 2005 | 44% | 46% | 1% |
| Rasmussen | September 28, 2005 | 45% | 45% | 5% |
| Survey USA | September 19, 2005 | 43% | 46% | 4% |
| Mason-Dixon | September 18, 2005 | 40% | 41% | 6% |
| Rasmussen | September 16, 2005 | 40% | 43% | 5% |
| Survey USA | August 9, 2005 | 43% | 48% | 3% |
| Rasmussen | August 4, 2005 | 39% | 45% | 5% |
| Mason-Dixon | July 24, 2005 | 38% | 37% | 9% |
| Rasmussen | July 14, 2005 | 41% | 47% | 4% |
| Survey USA | June 30, 2005 | 39% | 49% | 5% |
| Rasmussen | June 16, 2005 | 40% | 46% | 2% |
| Survey USA | May 17, 2005 | 40% | 44% | 5% |
Results
Mark Warner
Mark 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...
, was credited with doing especially well for a Democrat in rural areas of the commonwealth, Kaine's win featured surprising triumphs in traditionally Republican areas such as Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia 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...
, Chesapeake
Chesapeake, Virginia
As 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...
, and the Northern Virginia exurbs of Prince William County
Prince William County, Virginia
-National protected areas:* Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge* Manassas National Battlefield Park* Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge* Prince William Forest Park-Government and politics:...
and Loudoun County
Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
, as well as impressive showings in Democratic strongholds such as Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond 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...
and Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
Balance of Power
| Office | Party Before Election | Party After Election | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governorship Governor of Virginia The 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.... |
Democrat | Democrat | Democratic-Hold |
| Lieut. Governorship Lieutenant Governor of Virginia The 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... |
Democrat | Republican | Republican pick-up |
| Attorney General Attorney General of Virginia The 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... |
Republican | Republican | Republican-Hold |
| Virginia House of Delegates Virginia House of Delegates The 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... |
Republican (61 Seats) | Republican (57 seats) | Republican-Hold |
See also
- Commonwealth of VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
- List of Governors of Virginia
External links
- Official Results, Virginia State Board of Elections