Free Republic

RICHMOND, Va. - Republicans gained at least four seats Tuesday to strengthen their grip on the House of Delegates, but lost an influential delegate who has been embroiled in a scandal. Aided by a Republican sweep of the top three statewide offices, the GOP knocked off at least six Democratic House incumbents. The defeat of Del. Phil Hamilton, R-Newport News, and a Democratic win in an open seat formerly held by a Republican put the GOP's net gain at four with a couple of close races still to be decided. Hamilton, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, lost...

By electing governors of Virginia and New Jersey, Republicans have demonstrated that two trends suggested in recent opinion polls are for real. The first is that Republicans have pulled off a remarkable comeback after disastrous election defeats in 2006 and 2008. The second is that they now have a realistic shot at capturing the House and gaining Senate seats in the 2010 midterm election. The stunning success in Virginia and New Jersey was strikingly similar to Republican victories for governor in those states in 1993. Indeed, the margins of victory -- an 18-point landslide in Virginia, a narrow win in...

Most House Democrats tried to put a good face on Tuesday's election results, saying they picked up two more votes for a sweeping health care bill that could be on the floor as early as Friday. But it can't make Speaker Nancy Pelosi's job any easier as she works to corral those last holdouts she needs to approve the bill. Of course, the speaker, who told Politico recently she's "not big on showing weakness," brushed aside questions about how the election results would impact her final tally and instead trumped the two special election wins. "From our perspective we won...

There is bad news in Tuesday's voting for President Obama and his dwindling number of followers. Ten months ago, Obamamania got him the support of 53% of American voters. Obama promised that his successes would only add to that majority. However, he didn’t count on Obamaphobia setting in, a nationwide phenomenon that has reduced his support to around 40%. In Virginia’s gubernatorial race, Republican Bob McDonnell won in a landslide over his Democratic opponent, Creigh Deeds. Obama campaigned hard for Deeds. Deeds had the benefit of the entire Virginia Obama organization. Deeds had Virginia governor and Democratic National Committee (DNC)...

In court papers filed Tuesday, Muhammad's attorneys say the execution should be put off while the court considers whether his trial lawyer was ineffective.

A power outage at Metro's headquarters has led to massive problems systemwide, allowing people to ride some buses for free and shutting down WMATA's Web site, call center and e-mail alert system. Metro said it experienced a power outage at about 2:45 a.m. that took down the data center responsible for communication functions. Besides the Customer Call Center not being able to make or receive calls, Metro said the following problems have developed: Some Metrobus fareboxes are not functioning and if that is the case, customers are being allowed to ride without paying a fare. The NextBus system is not...

Bob McDonnell won big tonight in the Virginia gubernatorial race, as did the entire Virginia Republican party. The implications of the race will be sorted out soon enough. But one big loser is the Washington Post which may unwittingly have helped the Republican, despite their best efforts to put his opponent over the top. On the last weekend in August the Post ran the first of dozens of stories about McDonnell's 1989 masters' thesis, in which he wrote, among other things, that working women were detrimental to families and that government should favor traditional marriage over gay unions. While they...

RICHMOND, Va. — Eager to drain the 2009 elections of drama and import, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs claimed Tuesday night that President Barack Obama was “not watching returns.” You can be sure that he is studying them closely now: The off-year elections were in two big races an unmistakable rebuke of Democrats, reshuffling Obama’s political circumstances in ways likely to have severe near-term consequences for his policy agenda and larger governing strategy. Independents took flight from Democrats. They suffered humiliating gubernatorial losses in traditionally Democratic New Jersey, where Obama lent his prestige in a pair of 11th-hour campaign...

Major Republican victories in two states last night left the fate of President Obama's signature health reforms in doubt and Democrats licking their wounds a year before the 2010 mid-term elections. The defeat of Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine by an estimated five points in the New Jersey governor's race was a serious blow for Mr Obama, who had campaigned intensively for Mr Corzine and urged crowds across the state to turn out for him as they did in the historic White House race a year ago. In Virginia, Republicans won a clean sweep in contests for Governor, Attorney General and...

Off-year elections can be notoriously unreliable as predictors of the future, but as a window on how the political landscape may have changed in the year since President Obama won the White House, Tuesday's Republican victories in Virginia and New Jersey delivered clear warnings for the Democrats. Neither gubernatorial election amounted to a referendum on the president, but the changing shape of the electorates in both states and the shifts among key constituencies revealed cracks in the Obama 2008 coalition and demonstrated that, at this point, Republicans have the more energized constituency heading into next year's midterm elections. The most...

WASHINGTON – Independents who swept Barack Obama to a historic 2008 victory broke big for Republicans on Tuesday as the GOP wrested political control from Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey, a troubling sign for the president and his party heading into an important midterm election year. Conservative Republican Bob McDonnell's victory in the Virginia governor's race over Democrat R. Creigh Deeds and moderate Republican Chris Christie's ouster of unpopular New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine was a double-barreled triumph for a party looking to rebuild after being booted from power in national elections in 2006 and 2008...

Robert F. McDonnell scored a landslide victory over R. Creigh Deeds in the Virginia gubernatorial election Tuesday night as Republicans swept the state's top three offices and ended nearly a decade of Democratic dominance at the top of the ticket. Mr. McDonnell, a former attorney general, captured strong support from independents and voters in the Northern Virginia exurbs of Prince William and Loudoun counties that had been key to President Obama's unexpected victory in the state in 2008.

Awesome night!The left will try their best to minimize the damage done but the bluedog Democrats are now on notice….pass fiscally irresponsible bills like ObamaCare and your toast. As for NY-23, a few good articles…first from Roger Simon: Now I realize that the surprise loser there, Doug Hoffman, ran as a Conservative, not a Republican. But I submit in this case that was a distinction without a significant difference because virtually all the Republican establishment had lined up behind Hoffman by the day of the election.So why – in what was clearly a Republican year – did Hoffman lose? Well,...

The independent voters who powered President Obama and Democrats to victory in 2008 fled to Republicans in Tuesday's elections, helping the GOP romp to a ticketwide sweep in Virginia and a stunning victory over an incumbent Democratic governor in New Jersey. But the night wasn't a total loss for Democrats, as their candidate won a special election to fill an open congressional seat in upstate New York after a bitter civil war left Republicans divided between their party's nominee and a Conservative Party candidate. The seat had been in Republican hands for more than a century.

Barbara is leading her opponent, incumbent Margi Vanderhye for the VA House of Delegates, district 34. But the absentees have not been counted. I have no idea what the chances are of the absentees putting Vanderhye over the top. However, I note that in none of the 20 precints was there a spread as large as Vanderhye's deficit. I expect this could go to a recount. But for now, looking optimistic.

All politics is local, they say, and Tuesday’s off-off-year elections certainly had their local angles. Jon Corzine has been a terrible governor even by the undemanding standards of terribly governed New Jersey. Creigh Deeds, though he looked good to Democratic Party recruiters not long ago, turned out to be an undistinguished campaigner, more driven by the concerns of Washington Post editorialists than of Virginia voters. And NY-23 Republican nomineee Dede Scozzafava was a bizarre choice, bizarre enough to inspire a seemingly quixotic third-party run by Doug Hoffman. But these local angles weren’t enough to keep the Obama administration out of...

Republicans win Virginia, New Jersey governorshipsReuters | 11/04/2009 12:11 PM WASHINGTON – Republicans rolled to victory in governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey on Tuesday in a sharp blow to Democrats that showed the limits of U.S. President Barack Obama's influence. After suffering a one-two punch in those two states, Democrats were trying to salvage a victory over a conservative candidate in a congressional district in upstate New York. The election outcome in Virginia and New Jersey could offer clues on the mood of America a year after Obama was elected president and a year before 2010 congressional elections...

Thank you, Lord! We are finally bringing our country back from the brink of socialism.

  I'm passing these two observations from liberal Virginia bloggers on to readers, but they're so out of line with expectations, I have a hard time buying them.First, from Not Larry Sabato, about the Virginia delegate races: "SIX SEATS ARE GONE — ANOTHER NINE ARE IN PLAY FOR GOP PICKUP." Yesterday I predicted a GOP gain of six seats; I think most Virginia Republicans saw picking up 11 as their best-case scenario.Then, from Blue Virginia: I'm a bit skeptical of this, so take it with as big a grain of salt as you'd like, but it's from an excellent source....

Election '09 Tests Obama's Clout In NJ, Virginia Dems face possibility of big electoral setbacks a year after presidential win WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's political clout was on the line Tuesday as Virginia and New Jersey chose governors in contests that could serve as warning signs for Democrats about the public's mood heading into an important midterm election year. Elsewhere, Maine voters weighed in on same-sex marriage in a closely watched initiative, and New York and California picked congressmen for two vacant seats. A slew of cities selected mayors, and Ohio voted on allowing casinos. One year after Obama...

Bob McDonell just boarded a plane to fly to New Jersey to celebrate with Christie according to NBC 12 Richmond

Republican Bob McDonnell leads Virginia gubernatorial election by 67% after one percent of votes returned.

WASHINGTON – Republican Bob McDonnell opened a lead in early counting in Virginia's governor's race Tuesday as independent voters swung behind the GOP and fled Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, a reversal from a year ago when they catapulted President Barack Obama to the White House. New Jersey decided whether to stick with unpopular Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, while voters elsewhere cast ballots in local races. Democrats had won big victories in Virginia in 2006 and 2008, but interviews with voters leaving polling stations in the swing state on Tuesday were filled with signs of possible trouble for Obama and his...

Vast economic discontent marked the mood of Tuesday's off-year voters, portending potential trouble for incumbents generally and Democrats in particular in 2010. But in Virginia, where polls closed at 7 p.m., Creigh Deeds' main problem looks to have been Creigh Deeds. The Democratic gubernatorial nominee fell short on several measures in connecting with Virginia voters: They divided evenly in preliminary exit poll results on whether Deeds "shares your values" – 48 percent yes, 49 percent no. His Republican opponent, Bob McDonnell, scored better; 60 percent said he shares their values. Similarly, just 42 percent in Virginia saw Deeds as "about...

We knew it was going to be a bad election night for the Democrats when former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe announced on NBC's "Today" program that "the results of these elections tend to be overread." Certainly that was not the prevailing opinion in Democratic circles in 2008, when giddiness over Barack Obama's election reached manic proportions. Virginia, which voted Democratic for president for the first time since 1964, was singled out as an indication of the shape of things to come. In 2008, Mr. Plouffe bragged that only Mr. Obama could make Virginia competitive, and when he won the...

Expect GOP to Pickup 1 to 4 seats in Virginia House of Delegates.

WASHINGTON – Republicans wrested political control of Virginia from the Democrats on Tuesday and New Jersey's unpopular Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine was fighting for his political life as independent voters swung behind the GOP in both states. It was a troubling sign for President Barack Obama and his party heading into an important midterm election year. Republican Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell's victory in Virginia over Democrat R. Creigh Deeds was a triumph for a GOP looking to rebuild after being booted from power in national elections in 2006 and 2008. It also was a setback for the White House in a...

RICHMOND, Va. – Voters cast their ballots Tuesday for a new Virginia governor in a closely watched race that has focused on promises of jobs and critiques of President Barack Obama's policies a year after he won the state. Interviews with voters leaving polling stations in Virginia showed that independents broke heavily for Republican Bob McDonnell, fleeing Democrat R. Creigh Deeds. Independents are considered the crown jewel of elections because they often determine outcomes.

With 2/3 of the ballots counted in Virginia, McDonnell (R) is pounding Deeds (D) 61%-39%. The last Rasmussen poll had McDonnell ahead 54%-41%. There's a big difference between a 22% win and a 13% win. As I suspected would be the case, it appears the GOP, especially conservatives are HIGHLY motivated, while the democrats are not.

Republican Bob McDonnell easily won the Virginia governor’s race last night just a year after the state went overwhelmingly for President Obama and the Democrats. Unofficial results showed the former state attorney general defeated his Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds. The state had a Republican governor for the past eight years. The Virginia race and the contest for governor of New Jersey are viewed as the first referendum on Mr Obama and the Democratic Congress before the 2010 mid-term elections. A year ago, Mr Obama became the first Democrat in 44 years to carry Virginia in a presidential race. This time...

TONIGHT: RESULTS... REPUBLICAN TAKES VA: 656,124 McDonnell [R] 427,075 [D] NJ: 11,652 Christie [R] 7,930 Corzine [D] 1,894 Daggett [I] NY: 9 PM Hoffman [C] Owens [D] ABCNEWS: Vast Economic Discontent Spells Trouble for Dems in 2010...

American voters have delivered a sharp rebuke to Barack Obama by rejecting Democratic candidates in Virginia, the swing state that helped deliver him the White House almost exactly a year ago. Bob McDonnell, the Republican candidate, overwhelmed his Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds, for whom Mr Obama had campaigned, to become Virginia governor. Republicans also won the races in Virginia for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Fox News just called the Virginia gubernatorial race for Republican Bob McDonnell. Exit polls show him defeating Democrat Creigh Deeds in a landslide. Republicans also have captured the Lt. Governor and Attorney General spots, making it a clean sweep.

WASHINGTON – Republicans wrested political control of Virginia from the Democrats on Tuesday as independent voters swung behind the GOP, a troubling sign for President Barack Obama and his party heading into an important midterm election year. New Jersey decided whether to stick with unpopular Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.

McDonnell just declared victor in VA Governor's race by the Associated Press. Just reported on WNIS-AM in Norfolk.

<p>WASHINGTON – Republican Bob McDonnell opened a lead in early counting in Virginia's governor's race Tuesday as independent voters swung behind the GOP and fled Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, a reversal from a year ago when they catapulted President Barack Obama to the White House.</p>

With Republican Bob McDonnell holding a wide lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds in the Virginia race for governor, the former state attorney general could be at the fore of a GOP takeover on Election Day. (snip) Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, told Fox News he expects McDonnell to win big -- and usher other Republicans into office along the way. "McDonnell is not only going to win -- he's going to win by a landslide. He's going to pull his entire ticket to victory," he said, predicting GOP gains in the House of Delegates...

***All polls across the state of Virginia open at 6 am and close at 7 pm on Election Day Tuesday November 3rd, 2009*** Full election results (available after 7 PM) Map of election results

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - It's Election Day and polling places across Hampton Roads and all over Virginia are busy with the hustle and bustle of people checking in to vote. This morning, some voters in Suffolk hit a registration snag when they appeared in the electronic poll log as absentee voters. Voting officials said a few voters had to visit the registrar's office to confirm they were not registered as absentee voters. Voting officials then started cross-checking the electronic log against the paper poll log, which had correct voter information according to voting officials. It seems if voters registered to...

3 Points in 3 Months: VA Gov Contest Polling Ends Just About Where It Began, With GOP Sweep Of VA Races: Today it's McDonnell 58% Deeds 40%... In the race for Lieutenant Governor Bill Boiling today defeats Democrat Jody Wagner 57% to 41%... Republican candidate for Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli...today wins 59% to 39%. ...

A former Virginia Beach police officer pleaded guilty Monday to a federal conspiracy charge, admitting that he played a central role in a marriage-fraud case and then lied to his fellow officers and the FBI about it. Andrey Savelyev, a native of Russia, resigned from the force in August just before he was indicted in U.S. District Court. He became a Beach police officer in 1999 and most recently had been a detective in the 3rd Precinct property crimes unit. His arrest stems from an ongoing investigation into marriage fraud, mainly between Navy sailors and Eastern European women, and a...

Follow those races here. Report turnout, exit polls etc. as they happen..

New York beef manufacturer Fairbanks Farms has issued a voluntary recall of a little more than half a million pounds of ground beef. The recall, which affects states from Maine to North Carolina -- Maryland included -- comes after one person died in New Hampshire and people were sickened in other states after eating beef thought to be contaminated by the bacteria E.coli. The products, which include ground beef, meatloaf and meatball mix, carry sell-by dates from Sept. 19-28 and were sold under such brands as Trader Joe's Butcher Shop Fine Quality Meats, Giant Meatloaf & Meatball Mix and BJ's...

An early voting report from Virginia's 1st Congressional District, epicenter for today's expected GOP tsunami in the Old Dominion. I reside in York County, not far from Fort Eustis and the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center. The district is heavily Republican; John McCain got more than 60% of the vote here last year. Polls open in Virginia at 6 a.m. I arrived at my voting place (a local elementary school) at 6:45. The parking lot was 80% full at that hour, and more cars were arriving by the minute. The level activity seemed comparable to what I saw during the...

I will vote here in Pennsylvania in spite of many lousy choices on my state and local ballot today, but I want to encourage people in other places to get out and vote. I am enthusiatically cheering on the Conservative Party candidate in New York, Doug Hoffman. A victory for Doug Hoffman today in New York 23 is a win for the Conservative Party, not the Republican Party. RNC friendly spinners may tell a different story on television tonight, but for a Conservative Party candidate to force out the Republican candidate and maybe get over 50 percent of the vote...

The GOP is counting on a few wins tomorrow after four years of losing. And futures market traders seem to favor them. At the Intrade futures market, they sell contracts that depend on election outcomes. If a candidate wins, his contract pays $100. If he loses, it becomes worthless. In the weeks leading up to an election, contracts are bought and sold between market participants, and the going price offers an indication of how the market views the race. In 2004, Intrade participants correctly predicted every state's presidential outcome. In 2008, they predicted them all correctly except for Indiana, which...

Virginia Democrats thought incumbent Delegate Dan C. Bowling had a safe seat. That was before Republican James W. Morefield successfully turned the discussion in their Southwest Virginia coal-producing region into the negative effects of proposed federal cap-and-trade legislation, which would limit companies' carbon emissions. Now Democrats are fighting to win the race that the political blog Swing State Project has reclassified from "likely Democrat" to a "toss-up." That story has been repeated across Virginia, as voters awash in weighty national issues have a voice only in state elections this season. Democrats have seen their optimistic hopes of retaking the House...

Virginians will have an important choice to make in Tuesday’s gubernatorial election — and we believe the best choice is Republican Bob McDonnell. *break* On economic development, McDonnell wants to do more to lure businesses to Virginia. *break* McDonnell wants a $1,000 per job tax credit for companies that create at least 50 new jobs — or 25 new jobs in economically distressed areas. That’s the kind of thinking this economically distressed community needs in Richmond. It’s true that the Dan River Region’s leadership has worked hard to attract new jobs in manufacturing, technology, research and retail. But Danville has...

At a get-out-the-vote rally in Fairfax County, Moran said: “I mean, if the Republicans were running in Afghanistan, they’d be running on the Taliban ticket as far as I can see.” Moran was talking about Republicans Robert F. McDonnell for governor, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and state Sen. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, who is running for attorney general. By some accounts, the three represent the most conservative Republican ticket to run in Virginia in many years. Moran’s comments clearly were aimed to motivate Democratic voters to turn out on Tuesday and vote blue. According to WAMU, McDonnell spokeswoman Crystal Cameron...

Bachmann asks for patriots to call Congress and meet up with her at the Capitol next Thursday at High Noon. Time to mobilize! Stop Socialized Medicine Now!!! It's the 11th hour....Let's pay Nancy Pelosi a House Call... and tell her what she can do with the "Pelosi Health Care Plan"