FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) - Virginia GOP House Speaker William J. Howell has won re-election in the GOP primary, easily dispatching a tea party foe who was once his political protege.
With 100 percent of precincts in the Fredericksburg-area district counted, Howell defeated Susan Stimpson in Tuesday’s election 62 percent to 38 percent.
The long-time House speaker, first elected to the House 28 years ago, had a massive financial advantage over Stimpson. But Stimpson mounted an aggressive campaign in which she accused the speaker of being too cozy with special interests. Stimpson was helped by outside groups that have attacked Howell as pro-tax and anti-gun rights, stances the speaker has strongly denounced.
In a victory speech to supporters Tuesday, Howell said his victory “proved that people don’t want negative campaigns,” and added that he hoped his victory would spur the different factions of Republicans to unite ahead of the general election this fall and the presidential campaign next year.
“We can’t win if we don’t work together,” he said.
Howell’s victory is a win for the establishment wing of the state party, which was dealt a severe blow a year ago when Dave Brat upset then-U.S. Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a GOP congressional primary.
But while Howell held onto his seat, two longtime incumbents lost theirs Tuesday. Chesterfield County Republican Sen. Steve Martin and Democratic Del. Johnny S. Joannou of Portsmouth, who is one of the most conservative Democrats in the General Assembly, both lost to primary challengers. Political operative Amanda Chase defeated Martin and attorney Steve Heretick beat Joannou.
Del. Mark Berg, a tea party candidate who ousted an incumbent in 2013, also narrowly lost on Tuesday, to Christopher E. Collins.
Tuesday’s elections also helped shape the fall battle between Democrats and Republicans for control of the state senate.
Democrats need to pick up only one seat in order to regain control of the 40-member chamber, in which Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam casts tie-breaking votes.
A key race in the fall will be the Richmond-area Senate District 10, a swing seat currently belonging to retiring Republican Sen. John Watkins. Democrats are hoping to pick up the seat and Gov. Terry McAuliffe endorsed developer and Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors member Dan Gecker, who won Tuesday’s Democratic primary easily against two opponents.
Similarly, a GOP establishment pick won in Senate District 12, another Richmond-area seat belonging to retiring Republican Sen. Walter Stosch. Siobhan Dunnavant won an expensive and sometimes nasty four-way contest over former Del. Bill Janis and tea party pick Vince Haley, who received a late endorsement from GOP presidential hopeful Ted Cruz.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.