Republicans keep control of chamber

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By

Virginia Republicans kept their firm control of the House of Delegates, despite losing a couple of seats in yesterday's elections.

All 100 House seats were at stake, and Republicans had won at least 57 seats, Democrats 39 and independents two.

Two incumbents -- Richard H. Black, Loudoun County Republican, and W.B. Keister, Pulaski Democrat -- lost their re-election bids. Democrat David E. Poisson of Sterling defeated Mr. Black, and Republican Anne B. Crockett-Stark of Wytheville bested Mr. Keister.

Democratic victories in the House were anticipated to serve as a referendum on Gov. Mark Warner, who had snagged approval ratings of more than 70 percent in statewide polls, and last year's $1.38 billion tax increase he championed -- the largest in Virginia history.

Small battles over immigration, transportation, education and taxes resulted in several closely watched races that left voters with stark contrasts between Democratic and Republican challengers.

One of the most surprising Democratic victories of the night was that of Mr. Poisson, a transportation candidate bankrolled by Mr. Warner, in Loudoun County's 32nd District.

Mr. Poisson received 11,902 votes and Mr. Black 10,496, with 20 of 20 precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press.

In Fairfax County's 42nd District, Republican Delegate David. B. Albo, 43, defeated first-time candidate Gregory A. Werkheiser, a Democrat, by about 800 votes in a race that topped $875,000 in fundraising.

Mr. Albo won 9,589 votes and Mr. Werkheiser 8,832, with 15 of 15 precincts reporting.

Mr. Werkheiser, a lawyer in the District and former speechwriter for Mr. Warner, criticized Mr. Albo's opposition to Mr. Warner's tax increase. He also criticized Mr. Albo's vow to bar illegal aliens from universities, voting booths and day-labor centers.