Obenshain concedes, Herring next Attorney General

After a lengthy post-Election Day recount, Republican Mark Obenshain conceded to his Democratic challenger.

December 18, 2013; 3:42 PM • by RVANews staff

Update #4 — December 18, 2013; 3:42 PM

Mark Obenshain conceded victory to Mark Herring in the Attorney General race, one of Virginia’s closest political races in recent history.

“It’s become apparent our campaign is going to come up a few votes short,” Obenshain said at a Richmond press conference this afternoon. He spoke about the ongoing state-wide vote recount that currently nets Herring a 865-vote lead with only 150 ballots to be reviewed as of this morning, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Obenshain thanked his family and campaign staff during the afternoon press conference. “It was a vigorous and hard fought campaign,” he said. “But it’s over.”

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Update #3 — November 26, 2013; 5:13 PM

Mark Obenshain, the losing candidate in the recent Attorney General race (see below), will formally request a recount tomorrow. The State Board of Elections recently certified the race, in which Obenshain lost by 165 votes.

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Update #2 — November 25, 2013; 11:12 AM

Today the State Board of Elections certified Mark Herring as the Commonwealth’s Attorney General-elect with a 165-vote margin over Mark Obenshain. Over two million votes were cast in the election.

It’s expected that Obenshain will petition for a recount. According to The Washington Post, the attorney general race was the closest state-wide race in Virginia history.

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Update #1 — November 13, 2013; 1:10 PM

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports today that the current state senator has declared victory in the close Attorney General race:

Mark Herring, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, declared victory late Tuesday night, but Republican Mark Obenshain did not concede and the razor-thin contest could be headed for a recount.

As of noon., the unofficial State Board of Elections tally had Herring up by 164 votes.

Herring released his statement after the tally of provisional votes in Fairfax County added a net gain of 57 votes for the Democrat, which would give him a lead of 163 votes out of 2.2 million cast.

As of Sunday night, Obenshain had a 17-vote lead.

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Original — November 06, 2013

All but one race has been decided with over 99 percent of precincts reporting.

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Statewide

Governor

Terry McAuliffe edged out Ken Cuccinelli by less than three percent to earn a residence at the Governor’s Mansion. Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis managed just 6.5 percent. With Sarvis hitting less than 10 percent of the vote, the Libertarian party will not achieve “major party” status.

Lieutenant Governor

Ralph Northam (55.1 percent) beat the controversial Chesapeake minister E.W. Jackson.

Attorney General

The Attorney General race between Democrat Mark Herring (49.91 percent) and Republican Mark Obenshain (49.88 percent) remains too close to call. Expect a recount.

Richmond

Sheriff

Incumbent C.T. Woody retained his office, taking 61 percent of the vote against three challengers.

Commonwealth’s Attorney

Michael Herring ran unopposed.

Treasurer

Eunice Wilder (66 percent) defeated L. Shirley Harvey.

Meals tax in the counties

Chesterfield residents (56 percent) voted against a two percent meals tax, while Henrico residents (51 percent) approved a four percent meals tax.

House of Delegates

District 68

Republican G.M. “Manoli” Loupassi (66 percent) defeated his Democrat challenger William “Bill” Grogan (37 percent).

District 69

Betsy Carr (87 percent) cruised past R.S. “Bob” Barnett.

District 70

Delores McQuinn ran unopposed.

District 71

Jennifer McClellan (87 percent) handily beat Republican challenger Matthew Fitch.

District 74

Joseph Morrissey ran unopposed.

Photo by: Gary Cope

December 18, 2013 3:42 PM 3 4 updates