Del. Dave Albo debates the landmark transportation bill on the House floor of the Virginia General Assembly last February. Photo by Victoria Ross.
Every two years, Virginia holds all of its statewide elections. When it’s time to elect a new Governor, every member of the Virginia House of Delegates, a 100-seat body currently held by a GOP majority (67 Republicans – 32 Democrats and 1 Independent), is also up for re-election.
While downballot races got the spotlight, Northern Virginia actually saw the most competitive two-party races this year, with 57 contested House seats. This marks only the second time in the last decade where at least half of the 100 House seats had more than one name on the ballot.
"So what?" voters seemed to declare when casting their ballots.
Despite more choices, voters stuck with the politician they knew, giving incumbents in nearly every Fairfax County district a decisive victory.
District 34
Incumbent: Barbara Comstock (R) narrowly wins over Democratic challenger Kathleen Murphy with 50.66 percent of the vote (14,935 votes) over Murphy’s 49.20 percent (14,504 votes).
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Localities: Fairfax County (69 percent), Loudoun County (31 percent); 2012 elections: Obama 49 percent/Romney 49 percent, Kaine 52 percent/Allen 47 percent
This district tilts Republican.
District 35
Incumbent: Mark Keam (D) won overwhelmingly with 66 percent of the vote (14,591 votes) over GOP challenger Leiann Luse with 34 percent of the vote (7.513 votes).
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Locality: Fairfax County
2012 elections: Obama 59 percent/Romney 39 percent, Kaine 61 percent/Allen 39 percent
This district remains deep blue.
District 36
Incumbent: Kenneth Plum (D)
District Link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Locality: Fairfax County; 2012 elections: Obama 63 percent/Romney 35 percent, Kaine 65 percent/Allen 34 percent
Plum is one of two Democrats in a deep blue district that doesn't have an opponent.
District 37
Incumbent: David Bulova (D) won a resounding victory with 60.95 percent of the vote (11,521 votes) over Republican challenger Patrice Winter’s 38.86 percent (7,345 votes).
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Localities: Fairfax County (69 percent), City of Fairfax (31 percent); 2012 elections: Obama 60 percent/Romney 38 percent/Johnson 1 percent, Kaine 61 percent/Allen 39 percent
Many political watchers considered this district up for grabs in 2011, but the district remains strongly blue.
District 38
Incumbent: Kaye Kory (D) trounced Independent challenger James L. Leslie with 75 percent of the vote (11,718 votes) to Leslie’s 24.56 percent (3,869 votes).
District link on VPAP. Locality: Fairfax County
2012 elections: Obama 66 percent/Romney 33 percent, Kaine 67 percent/Allen 33 percent
Kory ran unopposed in 2011 in what is considered a very blue district.
District 39
Incumbent: Vivian Watts (D), a longtime incumbent, ran unopposed and garnered 93.72 percent of the vote with 16,182 votes cast.
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Locality: Fairfax County
2012 elections: Obama 61 percent/Romney 37 percent, Kaine 63 percent/Allen 37 percent
District 40
Incumbent: Tim Hugo (R) soundly defeated Democrat Jerrold Foltz, a first-time candidate with 60 percent of the vote (14,878 votes) to Foltz’ 40 percent (with 9,891 votes)
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Localities: Fairfax County(83 percent), Prince William County(17 percent)
2012 elections: Romney 51 percent/Obama 48 percent, Allen 51 percent/Kaine 49 percent
District 41
Incumbent: Eillen Filler-Corn (D) faced two challengers: Republican Fredy Burgos and frequent candidate Christopher F. DeCarlo (who also threw his hat in the ring for the sheriff’s race.) Filler-Corn sailed past both challengers with 57 percent of the vote (15,021 votes) over Burgos’ 40 percent (10,388 votes) and DeCarlo’s 3.58 percent (944 votes).
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Locality: Fairfax County
2012 elections: Obama 57 percent/Romney 41 percent/Johnson 1 percent, Kaine 59 percent/Allen 40 percent. Filler-Corn ran unopposed in 2011 in what is considered a Democratic-leaning district. After this win, the district may be considered a solid blue.
District 42
Incumbent: Dave Albo (R) knocked off Democratic challenger Ed Deitsch with 59.82 percent of the vote (15,232 votes) to Deitsch’s 40.07 percent of the vote (10,204 votes).
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Locality: Fairfax County. 2012 elections: Obama 52 percent/Romney 46 percent, Kaine 54 percent/Allen 46 percent
District 42 is often called a swing district, although it’s not clear why. Albo, a senior member of the house, has fought off several Democratic challengers in the last several elections. Although Albo may have felt some backdraft over general voter distaste for the tea party agenda, particularly on women’s rights, Albo held firm, voting with many Democrats this year for the landmark $3.5 billion transportation bill.
District 43
Incumbent: Mark Sickles (D) solidly held his seat with 73.56 percent of the vote (14,444) over Republican challenger Gail Parker with 25.28 percent of the vote (4,985 percent)
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Locality: Fairfax County. 2012 elections: Obama 64 percent/Romney 34 percent, Kaine 66 percent/Allen 34 percent. Sickles ran unopposed in 2011 in this strongly Democratic district.
District 44
Incumbent: Scott Surovell(D) overwhelming won reelection with 71.06 percent of the vote (13,177 votes) to Republican challenger Joseph A. Glean’s 28.10 percent of the vote (5,210 votes).
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Locality: Fairfax County. 2012 elections: Obama 64 percent/Romney 34 percent, Kaine 65 percent/Allen 35 percent
Surovell ran unopposed in 2011 in this very blue Democratic district.
District 45
Incumbent: Rob Krupicka (D) easily won reelection with 73.4 percent of the vote (21,121 votes) over Republican challenger Jeffrey J. Engle’s 25.21 percent (7,221 votes).
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Localities: City of Alexandria(73 percent), Arlington County(19 percent), Fairfax County(8 percent). 2012 elections: Obama 67 percent/Romney 31 percent, Kaine 70 percent/Allen 30 percent.
Deep blue Democratic district in Northern Virginia that includes parts of Arlington and Fairfax Counties as well as part of the City of Alexandria.
District 46
Incumbent: Charniele Herring (D) ran unopposed, garnering 95.66 percent of the vote with 15,045 votes.
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Locality: City of Alexandria. 2012 elections: Obama 74 percent/Romney 25 percent, Kaine 75 percent/Allen 25 percent.
Like Del. Ken Plum (D-36) Herring was one of the few delegates running unopposed in this deep blue district that is in part of the City of Alexandria.
District 48
Incumbent: Bob Brink(D) ran unopposed, winning 95 percent of the vote (21,699 votes).
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Localities: Arlington County(69 percent), Fairfax County(31 percent). 2012 elections: Obama 62 percent/Romney 37 percent, Kaine 64 percent/Allen 35 percent.
District 49
Incumbent: Alfonso Lopez (D) easily cruised to victory over Independent Green candidate Terrence W. Modglin with 77.92 percent of the vote (12,814 votes) to Modglin’s 20.92 percent (3,440 votes). District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Localities: Arlington County(77 percent), Fairfax County(23 percent). 2012 elections: Obama 73 percent/Romney 25 percent/Johnson 1 percent, Kaine 75 percent/Allen 25 percen.t
A deep blue district.
District 86
Incumbent: Tom Rust (R) edged out Democratic challenger Jennifer Boysko by just 56 votes. The final unofficial SBE results, with all precincts reporting, had Rust with 50.02 percent of the vote (10,383 votes) over Boysko’s 49.75 percent of the vote (10,327).
District link on VPAP at www.vpap.org/elections/district/
Localities: Fairfax County(87 percent), Loudoun County(13 percent). 2012 elections: Obama 60 percent/Romney 39 percent, Kaine 61 percent/Allen 39 percent.
Democrats sensed an opportunity in this swing district, and it appears, as of 3 a.m., that Rust held on to his seat.