Moderates Defeated In Va. Primary
GOP Incumbents Lose Senate Seats

By Amy Gardner
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Conservative Republican challengers prevailed against moderate incumbents in key legislative primary elections across Virginia yesterday, setting the stage for a bruising fall election in which Democrats will try to take over the GOP-controlled state Senate by capturing the political middle.

Election officials reported dismal voter turnout across the state, a typical outcome for a primary election featuring no statewide contests. Voters picked Republican and Democratic candidates for the Senate and House of Delegates as well as local offices, including seats in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. About 7 percent of registered voters went to the polls in primary elections across the state.

Two key moderate Republicans lost their seats in the Virginia Senate yesterday: Martin E. Williams (Newport News), chairman of the influential Senate Transportation Committee, and J. Brandon Bell II (Roanoke). Challengers Patricia B. "Tricia" Stall and Ralph K. Smith accused the incumbents of betraying the Republican Party by siding with Democrats to raise taxes.

"The people have spoken, and it is time for a change," said Robin DeJarnette, executive director of the Virginia Conservative Action PAC, which worked to unseat moderate Republicans who have sided with Democrats. "It is time to stop raising taxes in Virginia."

Republican leaders in the Senate have for several years governed by partnering with Senate Democrats and with two successive Democratic governors, Mark R. Warner and Timothy M. Kaine.

But with only a 23 to 17 GOP majority, the chamber has long been targeted by Democrats for takeover. Democrats will try to take advantage of the moderate losses by characterizing Republicans as far right and out of touch with mainstream Virginia, several said.

Several more conservative Republican candidates won tonight in these primaries, but I do think that presents opportunities for the Democrats in November," said Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (D-Arlington), chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. "I really think we will have the Democratic majority come November."

Democrats are less likely to take over the House of Delegates, where conservative Republicans already hold power and where Democrats hold 40 of 100 seats.

Not all offices were on ballots yesterday. The political parties chose to decide some nominations at political conventions. In other races, incumbents faced no challengers within their parties.

Locally, incumbent Linda Q. Smyth defeated challenger Charles W. Hall in the Democratic primary for Fairfax supervisor from the Providence district. Smyth's victory signals voter satisfaction not only with her leadership on such issues as traffic and growth, but also with that of her political mentor, board Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D).

"A lot of people came back and said, 'Thank you for all the work you've done in my neighborhood,' " Smyth said.

Hall, a former Washington Post editor, stirred controversy within Fairfax County's Democratic organization by running as a Democrat, yet seeking campaign advice from Connolly's leading political rival, U.S. Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.). Smyth's victory provides further evidence, several county Democrats said yesterday, that Democrats are firmly in control within the Providence District and across the county in general.

"There was a backlash among Democratic voters to the involvement of Republicans in Hall's campaign," Connolly said. "I think that had a very strong impact on primary voters. You want to run as a Republican and talk to the congressman, be our guest. But to actually seek his counsel was clearly unwelcome."

Smyth is virtually assured election in the fall; there is no Republican challenger.

Also in Fairfax, newcomer Pat S. Herrity, the son of the late longtime board chairman John S. "Jack" Herrity, won the Republican primary to replace retiring Springfield Supervisor Elaine N. McConnell. George L. Barker won the Democratic primary to represent the 39th Senate District; and Margaret G. Vanderhye and Rex A. Simmons each won Democratic primaries for Fairfax-based House of Delegates seats.

Elsewhere in the region, Arlington voters overwhelmingly chose incumbent Treasurer Francis X. O'Leary. In Loudoun, Republican Jill Holtzman Vogel won the Republican primary to replace retiring state Sen. H. Russell Potts (R-Winchester), beating restaurateur Mark D. Tate, who was recently indicted on charges of campaign finance fraud and perjury. And in Prince William, two incumbent Republicans, Sheriff Glendel Hill and Supervisor Maureen S. Caddigan, overwhelmingly won their primaries. Newcomer Frank J. Principi won a Democratic primary for supervisor.

The primary campaign season was subdued this year, with Republican and Democratic candidates for the Senate and House of Delegates making late appeals to voters in the final days of the campaign. But the primary will set the stage for an intense fall campaign for the seats of all 140 delegates and senators.

Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William voters also will pick county supervisors and other local officials Nov. 6.

Holtzman Vogel will face Democrat Karen Schultz and independent Donald Marro in the fall.

Potts said he thinks Holtzman Vogel is too far right for Virginia. She is "to the right of Attila the Hun and way out of the mainstream," said Potts, who has counted himself among a small handful of moderate Republicans who often partnered with Democratic governors to raise taxes and fund education.

As a result, the outcome of the race to replace Potts and some other key contests will determine control of the General Assembly -- and not merely whether it is governed by Democrats or Republicans, but whether it is controlled by moderates or conservatives.