Democrat Jennifer Wexton wins state Senate seat in Northern Virginia - possible chamber control

[JaneyVee]

Source: Washington Post

Democrats remained on course to take control of the Virginia Senate after winning a key special election Tuesday, as thousands of Northern Virginia voters braved snow and bitter winds to cast ballots in an unusual, three-way contest.

In the race to fill the seat vacated by Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D), Democrat Jennifer Wexton prevailed over Republican John Whitbeck and Joe T. May, a former Republican delegate running as an independent, according to unofficial election results. The district encompasses a slice of Fairfax and a hefty portion of eastern Loudoun County, a region that has leaned toward Democrats of late but remains battleground territory.

With the Virginia Senate previously split 20-20, Democrats must hold the two seats vacated by Herring and Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam in order not to lose control to Republicans. If the chamber remains evenly divided, Northam would act as a tie-breaking vote, giving Democrats control of the chamber.





Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/democrats-win-state-senate-seat-in-northern-virginia--and-perhaps-control-of-the-chamber/2014/01/21/6a0eecac-829a-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_story.html

[GP6971]

1. Good news. n/t

[sheshe2]

2. Another win!

We can do this. One seat at a time.

[11 Bravo]

3. Hot damn, that's great news! I've been following local news all evening and they ...

haven't reported it yet. Thanks for getting the word out!

[onehandle]

4. Thank God. nt

[longship]

6. God had little to do with this.

I think you are confusing God with the voters' will.

[sulphurdunn]

10. Not at all.

I sacrificed a chicken on election day. The entrails told me who would win. Chicken guts never lie.

[longship]

11. Well, pagan gods are allowed.

I ate lamb chops the other day, so a sacrificial lamb died for my dinner.

So it goes.

[gopiscrap]

28. I actually dined on the sacred cow

and the GOP ate crow!

[onehandle]

12. Glad you got that off your chest. nt

[longship]

13. Myself, I think it was the voters, not a deity. nt

[LanternWaste]

32. Myself, I think a visceral expression of relief...

Myself, I think a benign and idiomatic expression of relief is taken literal only by those sporting a thin patina of self-perceived cleverness.

[westerebus]

17. Well..

I intend to let my right wing god fearing co-workers know that it was god's will that put a heathen socialist communist golf swinging compound sentence using democrat into that position, because god knows best what's good for us.

It's the little things like that that just makes my day.

[longship]

19. Good luck with that.

I heartily recommend a strategy to get out the Democratic voters. We need them to go to the polls.

[westerebus]

23. Agree.

[NBachers]

24. Now that that's over with, let's get to the rest of the replies:

[hrmjustin]

5. Great to hear!

[brooklynite]

7. DLCC Statement on Democratic Special Election Victory in Virginia Senate

Washington, DC (January 21st, 2014) – Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) Executive Director Michael Sargeant has released the following statement on today’s win by Democrat Jennifer Wexton in the special election for Virginia’s 33rd Senate District:

“I want to congratulate Senator-Elect Jennifer Wexton on her victory in tonight’s special election for the Virginia Senate,” said Sargeant. “Wexton’s victory marks not only the continuation of Democrats’ 2012 effort that won majorities in eight state legislative chambers, but also the beginning of a 2014 election cycle about which the DLCC feels strongly optimistic.”

“I also wish to recognize the team effort – including the Wexton Campaign, Governor McAuliffe, the Virginia Senate Democrats, and the DLCC – that made this victory possible,” Sargeant continued.

“Tonight’s victory shows Virginians’ eagerness for pragmatic, Democratic leadership after watching the Tea Party run amok in their state. Senator-Elect Wexton is a dedicated public servant, and we wish her well in the state Senate.”

[Neurotica]

8. Had to wait in line to vote. In the snowstorm. Didn't mind a bit.

Impressive turnout in my precinct, bad weather and all.

[westerebus]

15. Thanks for doing that.

[Neurotica]

21. I couldn't wait to vote! And btw the Democratic GOTV effort was outstanding!

We got multiple calls over the last few days, including warnings about the snowstorm. And a young woman knocked on our door late morning to make sure we had gotten out or were going to be able to get out in the snow. She was walking our block in 20-degree weather with driving winds and snow.

Kudos to all the volunteers ! Let's keep this up!

[Virginian]

29. She was the only one running TV ads.

Except for ONE the night before the election by the republican.
And in this market! It must have cost a fortune, but it worked!

It also helped that the republicans split the vote between a moderate and a Tea-Party candidate.

Jennifer will be a great state senator.

Now, let's hope that recount goes our way in the other state Senate race so we can get stuff done in this commonwealth.

[mountain grammy]

31. Yes, thank you! and push your reps for mail in ballots. It's the only way to go!

paper trail and everything and no waiting in line. We sit down together as a family and fill out our ballots, discussing candidates and the issues. It's great. With a Democratic legislature, you just might get it through.

[Indyfan53]

9. Hell yeah!

Now, let's GOTV for the special election in Florida for the 13th district and in November for the midterms!

#DEMS2014

[blkmusclmachine]

14. Silly you! The DEMS are never in control, even after they win elections and majorities.

[NCarolinawoman]

16. As a North Carolinian, I can feel your happiness.

[grandpamike1]

22. Sad

That you have to admit that you live in NC.

[Herself]

26. NC has to get out the vote

NC needs to put their Moral Monday protest energy in ensuring the voters get out and vote!

Both the republican and the democratic voter's need to show up.

[JI7]

18. a lot of good news from virginia today

[grandpamike1]

20. Even

Though she was certified, there is an ongoing recount. She only won by 9 votes.

[Virginian]

30. That's a different race. No recount for Jennifer Wexton. She WON!

I think that is the 6th district that is having a recount.
Jennifer won easily. There will be no recount in this race! She won all but 3 or 4 precincts in Loudoun county. She has around 52 - 53 percent of the vote.

The recount will determine if the Dems control the state senate.

[Cha]

25. Good.. edge of our seats Good!

thanks JaneyVee

[dicksmc3]

27. Congrats to jennifer!!

Yes, congrats to Jennifer but, also to the many voters who braved the extreme weather to cast a vote for DEMOCRACY!! This is the first but, not the last time we'll be talking about saving our DEMOCRACY the old fashioned way--- ONE VOTE AT A TIME!!