GOP maintains Va. House majority
By: David Sherfinski
Examiner Staff Writer
November 4, 2009
Down-ballot Republicans, riding a sweep at the top of the Virginia ticket, maintained their majority in the Virginia House of Delegates, and appeared poised to widen that margin.
The GOP managed to stanch a recent Democratic tide in the state legislature. Democrats had gained 11 seats in the past three elections, leaving Republicans with a six-seat working majority after holding 64 seats in 2001.
There were 69 contested races in the House, 11 of which were for open seats.
Republicans poured a significant amount of money into a handful of House races, including five seats in the D.C. suburbs that broke for President Obama in 2008. GOPAC, a group that helped fund the "Republican Revolution" of 1994, which allowed the GOP to regain majorities in the U.S. House and Senate, poured in at least $100,000 to a handful of House races.
One Republican pickup was Thomas "Tag" Greason's win over incumbent David Poisson in the 32nd District, which is comprised of Loudoun County. Greason defeated Poisson 57-42, with 100 percent of precincts reporting.
The Democrats managed to hang on to a number of seats, including the 46th District, formerly occupied by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian Moran.
Charniele Herring, the Democratic representative for the 46th District, which is comprised by parts of Fairfax County and Alexandria, defeated Republican challenger Sasha Gong. In a special election for the seat of former Del. Brian Moran in January, Herring survived a recount and defeated Republican challenger Joe Murray by a scant 16 votes.
With 13 of 14 precincts reporting, Herring led Gong by a 64-36 margin.
Jack Sullivan, who works with the Democratic Party in the 46th District, said that "almost nobody turned out" for the special election.
"This time, the people who are voting regularly are coming out," he said.
The race for the 34th District seat between incumbent Margi Vanderhye and Republican challenger Barbara Comstock was one that the GOP thought could swing red. As of press time, the race was too close to call.
There were three delegates running unopposed in Northern Virginia: Republican Scott Lingamfelter, who represents Fauquier and Prince William counties (31st District), Republican Joe May, representing Clarke and Loudoun counties (33rd District), and Democrat Adam Ebbin, who represents Alexandria, Arlington County, and Fairfax County (49th District).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
