Déjà vu in Virginia attorney general drama

Eight years ago my phone rang bright and early the day after the 2005 election. I was still sleeping after a hard-fought campaign that saw Bill Bolling elected as lieutenant governor, Jerry Kilgore lose as governor, and Bob McDonnell in a tight down-to-the-wire race for attorney general. I was needed at the Augusta County Government Center to witness the vote canvas, the beginning of a process that eventually led to my participation in a mid-December recount that saw McDonnell prevail with a mere 360 votes over his Democratic challenger, Creigh Deeds.<br /><br />Fast forward to last week's election that saw Democrats Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam winning the governor and lieutenant governor spots. The end of the day, however, showed a tighter-than-a-tick contest between Republican Mark Obenshain and Democrat Mark Herring that fluctuated back and forth as a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/12/us/politics/back-and-forth-in-undecided-virginia-attorney-general-race.html?_r=0" target="_blank">variety of events took place over the next seven days</a>. When all votes were finally tallied, Herring was ahead by 163 votes in a contest that was probably headed to recount.<br /><br />However, as happened in the 2005 race, recounts rarely change the final numbers by much. If Herring prevails, Virginia Democrats will have swept the top three offices that were won in landslide victories four years earlier by Republicans McDonnell, Bolling, and Cuccinelli.<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.nbc12.com/decisionvirginia/2013/11/herring-leads-race-for-attorney-general-after-final-count.html" target="_blank">NBC 12</a> has a report on the final count.

Bill Bolling Bob McDonnell Ken Cuccinelli Lynn R. Mitchell Mark Herring Mark Obenshain Ralph Northam recount Terry McAuliffe Virginia Democrats Virginia Republicans Déjà vu in Virginia attorney general drama

Eight years ago my phone rang bright and early the day after the 2005 election. I was still sleeping after a hard-fought campaign that saw Bill Bolling elected as lieutenant governor, Jerry Kilgore lose as governor, and Bob McDonnell in a tight down-…

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Lt. Governor Bolling congratulates Terry McAuliffe; urges GOP to look at its future

On Tuesday night, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling issued the following statement on the 2013 election results:<br /><blockquote>“The 2013 campaigns have come to an end, and the people of Virginia have chosen their leaders for the next four years. I congratulate Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam on their election victories, and stand ready to help them in any way I can as they prepare to lead Virginia.<br /><br />“The outcome of the race for Attorney General has not yet been determined, so I will refrain from commenting on that race until the final results are known. However, I recognize Mark Obenshain and Mark Herring for participating in such a hard fought and competitive campaign.<br /><br />“I also thank Ken Cuccinelli, Robert Sarvis and E.W. Jackson for their willingness to engage in the political process. Campaigns are never easy, and this campaign was particularly difficult. I hope they will take comfort knowing that they did their best, even though the outcome may not have been as they desired.<br /><br />“I also congratulate all of the candidates who won election victories tonight in the Virginia House of Delegates. I am pleased that the House of Delegates will continue to have a strong Republican majority, under the capable leadership of Speaker Bill Howell. I know they will continue to do their part in making certain that Virginia takes a mainstream approach to governing.<br /><br />“As a Republican, I am deeply disappointed that our party has lost control of our state's top two elected offices. There are clear lessons in these losses for the Republican Party. Going forward, we need to have an open and honest conversation about the future of our party and determine what we must do to reconnect with a more diverse voter base whose support is critical to political success in Virginia.<br /><br />“Now that the campaigns have ended, we must all come together in support of our elected leaders and help them in their effort to build a better Virginia. Let that process begin.”</blockquote>

2013 gubernatorial election Bill Bolling Bill Howell Ralph Northam Republican Terry McAuliffe Lt. Governor Bolling congratulates Terry McAuliffe; urges GOP to look at its future

On Tuesday night, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling issued the following statement on the 2013 election results:“The 2013 campaigns have come to an end, and the people of Virginia have chosen their leaders for the next four years. I congratulate Terry…

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