Republicans Aim to Launch Comeback in Fairfax County

Fairfax County Republicans were in a good mood last weekend, when they gathered for their annual summer picnic with a little more firepower than usual in a county that has been marching steadfastly away from the party in recent elections.

Republicans will appear on the ballot in 15 of 17 House of Delegates seats in the state's largest jurisdiction, and many of them showed up Saturday to eat barbecue and meet the local party's most loyal activists at Mason District Park in Annandale.

Although Democrats have won most elections this decade in Fairfax, Republican leaders say they hope to capitalize on what is expected to be a hard-fought governor's race between Robert F. McDonnell (R) and state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath). They say their party is ready to rebound now that the unpopularity of former president George W. Bush is no longer an issue.

The ultimate goal, state Republicans say, is to stall and even reverse Democratic gains in the General Assembly this year, keeping control of the House. Fairfax County will be a key battleground.

"We're competitive," said House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), who attended the picnic with former first lady Susan Allen. "We can speak to the issues. We're going to do well."

Democrats take another view.

Less than a decade ago, Virginia was a decidedly conservative state where Republicans held the executive mansion, both U.S. Senate seats, eight of 11 congressional seats and both chambers of the General Assembly. Today, the governor's office, state Senate, both U.S. Senate seats and six of 11 congressional seats are held by Democrats. In addition, Virginians voted for a Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama, for the first time in 44 years.

Fairfax, an electoral juggernaut with nearly 700,000 registered voters, is one big reason for the shift. Democrats have won elections by dominating issues such as traffic relief and school quality. They also boast a demographic advantage -- more county residents identify with them -- that they say will be very hard for Republicans to overcome.

Del. Kenneth R. Plum of Reston, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said he was heartened to have a Republican challenger for the first time in eight years because he has had trouble fundraising without one. Although Plum expects his opponent, Mark E. Whited, to work hard, his challenge will make it easier for Plum -- and other Democrats across Fairfax and Virginia -- to raise money, he said.

"I actually sent out a little flier, which was made to look like the Reston Dispatch, announcing that I had an opponent," Plum said. "I was able to have a successful fundraiser."

In fact, both parties are mounting as many candidates as they can. Across Virginia, 57 of 100 House seats will feature major-party challenges -- the highest number in at least a decade, according to the nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project, which analyzes election data.

With Republicans controlling the House with 55 seats, Democrats, who have been closing the gap with each election this decade, need six seats more to regain control after 10 years in the minority.