Washminster

Washminster
Washminster

Wednesday 7 November 2007

Update on Virginia Elections

The final (unofficial) results are in from 37th Senate district - by just 91 votes Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II was elected over Janet Oleszek.

The Washington Post reports -

"Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) claimed victory last night in legislative elections, saying his party had seized control of the state Senate and made historic gains in the House of Delegates. In a speech to Democratic Party activists at a hotel in Tysons Corner, Kaine hailed the political changes that have swept through Virginia, beginning with the election of Gov. Mark R. Warner in 2001, his own election four years later and last year's victory by U.S. Sen. James Webb.

In an interview moments later, Kaine said Democrats picked up four seats in the Senate, with two races still outstanding. "It's an exciting time," Kaine said. "The state is really a competitive state." The gains mean there is a new Democratic partner for him in Richmond, he said. "It enables me to get even more done," Kaine said.

Kaine's comments came as the votes were still being counted across the commonwealth. But what was clear to the governor was already emerging in the tallies: Democrats in Virginia made big gains in the legislature and in key local races as the commonwealth's voters continued to dramatically shift their preferences away from the Republican elected leadership they installed during the 1990s."