GOP Conservatives' Wins Set Stage for Nov.

The Republican-controlled Virginia Senate has worked with two successive Democratic governors to push for higher taxes and resist the agenda of social conservatives.

But the effort came back to haunt the moderates last night.

Determined to gain control of their Virginia GOP, fiscal and social conservatives sought revenge in yesterday's primary and unseated two moderate senators.

Sen. Martin E. Williams (R-Newport News) was defeated by conservative Tricia B. Stall, who once signed a petition for "ending government involvement in education."

Sen. Brandon J. Bell II (R-Roanoke) was defeated by Ralph K. Smith, who had said the incumbent was too moderate. Bell had been a major backer of a statewide smoking ban in bars and restaurants.

The defeats, combined with the win of Del. A. Donald McEachin (D-Richmond) over incumbent Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert III (D-Richmond) in the Democratic primary, underscore how a highly ideological electorate showed up at the polls yesterday to punish candidates they viewed as straying from their party's core principles.

With the conservative GOP victories, Democrats say the stakes for Nov. 6 just got a lot higher. The prospect of a more conservative Senate is a new rallying cry for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's (D) effort to have the Democrats retake control of the chamber in the fall campaign.

The party needs to gain four Senate seats and 11 House seats to take back control.

"It pushes the Republican caucus as far to right as you can get," said state Sen. Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax). "If we don't gain control, do you want this crowd in charge?"

Saslaw's "crowd in charge" message may be particularly appealing in Fairfax County, where Republican Sens. James K. "Jay" O'Brien, Ken Cuccinelli and Jeannemarie Devolites Davis are expecting tough battles.

O'Brien said last night that GOP candidates running in other parts of the state won't have an influence in Fairfax. "Dick is going to try any ruse he can think of to put himself in the leadership of the Senate, but every race is local," O'Brien said.

But top Republican leaders are worried.

"The dynamics are clearly different as a result of the elections tonight," said Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle (R-Virginia Beach). "It makes it harder for us to maintain a Republican majority in the Senate. I think it can still be done, but all the stars have to be aligned, with very little room for deviation."

Stolle said Republicans will now have to defend the Bell and Williams seats, which they had not planned on.

Democrats say they increasingly think Democrat Karen Schultz, an associate professor at Shenandoah University, may be able to claim the seat held by retiring Sen. H. Russell Potts (R-Winchester).

Schultz will face Jill Holtzman Vogel, who won last night and is active in the Virginia Conservative Action PAC, which is dedicated to expunging the Senate of moderates.

The moderates in the Republican-controlled Senate worked with former Gov. Mark R. Warner (D) in 2004 to enact a $1.5 billion tax increase they say was needed to fund essential government services. Last year, they allied with Kaine in his fight with the more conservative House of Delegates to raise revenue to pay for transportation improvements.

Two of those senators, Majority Leader Walter A. Stosch and Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr., barely survived last night's conservative revolt.

Despite spending nearly $1 million, Stosch (R-Henrico) appeared to have barely survived a primary fight from a conservative. And Hanger (R-Augusta) also appears to have had to rely on votes from Democrats who crossed over to vote in the GOP primary to reclaim his seat.