By Anita Kumar
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
RICHMOND, Nov. 24 -- The State Board of Elections certified results of the Nov. 4 election Monday, giving Democrats control of Virginia's congressional delegation for the first time in nearly a decade.
The count confirmed that Democrat Tom Perriello defeated Republican Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. in one of the closest House races in the nation.
Perriello proclaimed victory and has started his congressional orientation. Goode said Monday he will seek a taxpayer-funded recount.
If it holds, Perriello's narrow victory provides proof that this once conservative Southern state is starting to become blue in areas beyond left-leaning Northern Virginia.
Republicans consider the defeat an "anomaly." They say Goode and Republican Rep. Thelma D. Drake in Hampton Roads can attribute their losses to Democrat Barack Obama's popularity and message of change. They predict Republicans will reclaim at least two House seats in 2010.
"They're going to beat their chests and declare victory, but . . . they shouldn't rest too much on their laurels," said Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (Prince William), state Republican Party chairman.
Eight years ago, Virginia Republicans controlled all five statewide offices and the General Assembly. But they began losing ground in 2001 and have since lost two successive gubernatorial elections, two Senate seats, and control of the state Senate.
Republicans started this year with an 8 to 3 edge in the congressional delegation but lost three seats when Perriello defeated Goode, Democrat Glenn Nye defeated Drake and Democrat Gerald E. Connolly won the district of retiring U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R).
Republicans attribute recent losses to a national fatigue caused largely by President Bush's sagging approval ratings, an unpopular war in Iraq and the economic crisis.
Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, the presumptive Republican nominee for governor next year, said the GOP had a "real tough sell" this year, but he also acknowledged the party needs to do a better job focusing on core issues.
"Anytime you lose elections, there's cause for an analysis," he said.
Levar Stoney, executive director of the state Democratic Party, said Perriello and Nye won in competitive districts because they offered concrete solutions to local problems. "They presented the better ideas," Stoney said.
Goode easily won reelection since first being elected in 1996. Democrats say this year he failed to address concerns about jobs in the economically distressed Southside. In recent years, South-Central Virginia has seen a once-booming tobacco industry decline and textile and furniture factories shuttered. Thousands of jobs have moved overseas, leaving the area with the state's highest unemployment rate.
Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath), who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor and whose district overlaps the 5th Congressional District, said that Goode failed to focus on the economy and jobs, the way Perriello did.
"If Tom stays in touch with the district, he can be congressman as long as he wants to be," Deeds said.
Goode attributed the election results to Obama's appeal and increased turnout among young voters in the Charlottesville area. But Perriello, who talked about investing in infrastructure and workforce development, said his win holds a deeper meaning for the district.
"It's about right and wrong, not right and left," he said.
The State Board of Elections announced that Perriello defeated Goode by 745 votes out of more than 316,000 cast -- a margin of 0.24 percentage points that entitles Goode to a recount at taxpayer expense. The recount will likely stretch into mid or late December.
A three-judge panel oversees the recount. Paper ballots will be recounted by hand. Machine results will be recalculated using printouts. Officials will rerun optical scan ballots, tabulating only votes for the House race.
U.S. District Judge Richard L. Williams will consider whether the state should count late overseas absentee ballots. Goode said the votes should count, but he does not know if they will change the result. A U.S. District Court hearing in Richmond is set for Dec. 8.
Researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.
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