Virginia Democrats’ reign ends in sweep

Robert F. McDonnell scored a landslide victory over R. Creigh Deeds in the Virginia gubernatorial election Tuesday night as Republicans swept the state’s top three offices and ended nearly a decade of Democratic dominance at the top of the ticket.

Mr. McDonnell, a former attorney general, captured strong support from independents and voters in the Northern Virginia exurbs of Prince William and Loudoun counties that had been key to President Obama’s unexpected victory in the state in 2008.

With 99 percent of the vote counted, Mr. McDonnell led Mr. Deeds 58.7 percent to 41.3 percent, a sizable victory just days after Mr. Obama campaigned with Mr. Deeds. The presidential visit didn’t seem to have much impact on voters, and the Deeds loss lessened Democrats’ optimism that Virginia might be trending toward being a swing state in future elections.

Republican Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II captured the attorney general’s race, and Bill Bolling won re-election as lieutenant governor. It was the first time since 1997 that Republicans captured all three top jobs.

“Working together as Virginians, we will find those new ways to solve the problems that face us and to create more jobs and new opportunities,” Mr. McDonnell told a crowd of about 500 supporters in the ballroom of the Marriott hotel in downtown Richmond.

Thanking those who voted for him, Mr. McDonnell told those who did not support him to give him a chance.

“For those of you that did not support me, I say to you, give me a chance to earn your trust to work with you for the betterment of the commonwealth of Virginia,” he said.

He promised the crowd that he would leave the state in a better shape by the time he leaves office.

Shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m., the upbeat crowd of Republican revelers began to stream into the Marriott ballroom. Supporters held a multitude of signs, from “Bob’s 4 Jobs” to “McDonnell - Governor.”

The crowd of about 500 erupted in cheers and waved their signs when Mr. McDonnell was declared the winner. About 20 minutes later, the cheers sounded again when television news broadcasters announced that Mr. Bolling and Mr. Cuccinelli had won.

The mood was subdued at the Democratic watch party for Mr. Deeds at the Westin Hotel in Richmond. Only about 50 people occupied the room at 8 p.m. A large projection-screen television that had been showing CNN election coverage was switched to a slide show of photos from the Deeds campaign.

Mr. Deeds conceded the race shortly before 9 p.m., telling a crowd of about 150 supporters in a six-minute speech that although he did not like losing, there’s more work to be done.

AP INTERACTIVE: Election 2009 results

“There’s still people that need a voice, and we’re going to give them that voice,” he said. “This chapter is closed, but the next chapter is to be written.”

Story Continues →