Allen concedes, gives Senate to Democrats

Virginia Sen. George Allen yesterday conceded defeat to Democrat James H. Webb Jr. in his re-election bid, allowing Democrats to take the reins of the U.S. Senate for the first time in many years.

“In this season, the people of Virginia, who I always call the owners of the government, they have spoken, and I respect their decision,” the Republican told supporters gathered in Old Town Alexandria just after calling Mr. Webb to congratulate him.

Mr. Webb unseated Mr. Allen Tuesday by just under 9,000 votes, according to an unofficial count. Mr. Allen, a former governor, noted he is within his legal rights to request a taxpayer-funded recount because the margin is three-tenths of one percent, but declined to do so.

“It is with deep respect for the people of Virginia and to bind factions together for a positive purpose that I do not wish to cause more rancor by protracted litigation, which would, in my judgment, not alter the results,” Mr. Allen said, standing next to Virginia’s senior Sen. John W. Warner, a Republican.

A few hours later in Arlington, Mr. Webb, a former Republican who served as President Reagan’s Navy secretary, pumped his fists in the air in front of thousands of supporters gathered to cheer on the senator-elect at his victory rally.

“I am indebted to you, and I won’t forget my loyalties,” he said as the crowd pushed to shake his hand and thank him for delivering the Senate to the Democrats.

Mr. Allen’s loss — the third consecutive top office lost by state Republicans — leaves the Virginia Republican party in disarray.

“George Allen is the patriarch of the modern Republican party in Virginia,” said Lt. Gov. William T. Bolling, one of several Republicans jockeying to be the new leader. His win last fall buoyed depressed party loyalists after their candidate Jerry W. Kilgore lost the gubernatorial race to Democrat Timothy M. Kaine.

Now, conservatives can choose to unite behind former leaders with an anti-tax message — such as James S. Gilmore III, the last Republican chief executive — or centrists such as Rep. Thomas M. Davis III, who work with the opposing party. Mr. Davis won re-election Tuesday in a changing and growing Northern Virginia district that favored Mr. Webb.

The party has two years to figure out its message before two major elections — the expected retirement of Mr. Warner from the Senate and the 2009 governor’s race.

The soul-searching elevates Mr. Bolling and Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, each of whom wants to be governor, and Mr. Davis, who is interested in being senator.

Mr. McDonnell, a longtime friend of Mr. Allen, praised him for his work eliminating parole in the 1990s as governor and for bringing jobs to Virginia. He said the concession is “an act of honor, character and putting the needs of his beloved Virginia first, attributes that have defined George Allen throughout his public career.”

The anti-tax socially conservative wing of the party has struggled to woo voters in the growing Northern Virginia suburbs, which have voted Democratic in the past three statewide elections.

Mr. Gilmore, who is interested in seeking political office, said Republicans must “control spending” if they want to return to power. “This has been a chronic problem for quite a while,” he said.

Mr. Gilmore would not name a new head of the party, saying it is the ideas that matter, not the personality. “The key is what is important to the people of Virginia and the United States. It is not about us, it is about them,” he said.

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