Congressional delegation: Seven Democrats, six Republicans. Senate: 1 Dem, 1 Repub. Gov: Pubbie
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985490,00.html
VA 2006:
Congressional delegation: Three Democrats, eight Republicans. Senate: 0 Dem, 2 Repub. Gov: Dem
Hey Corin, you have the numbers handy. What was the switch in the state Senate and House of Delegates? I believe 2001 was the first time since Reconstruction the GOP had the majority. Is that correct?
I need to keep this on file, but I'm doing it from memory.
We took the State Senate I believe in 1995. It may have been 1997 with Lt. Governor John Hager breaking the tie for the Republicans.
We took the House of Delegates after Jim Gilmore won in 1997. He appointed a long time Dem Delegate to an agency position. A Republican won the special election.
You are also correct (up thread) that in the last 10 Gubernatorial elections it is a tie 5 Republicans, 5 Democrats.
Note that when (RINO Father-in-law of Tim Kaine) was elected in 1969 he was the first Republican elected Governor of Virginia since Reconstruction.
Also note that the Governor just before Holton was Mills Godwin, as a Democrat. After Holton, Godwin ran and won as a Republican. Prior to that Democrats in Virginia were still fairly conservative.
As for the last two Governor's races, we've discussed this ad nauseum. Both Earley in '01 and Kilgore in '05 ran miserably horrible campaigns. But note.
2001
Governor - Mark Warner - D
Lt. Governor - Tim Kaine - D
Attorney General - Jerry Kilgore - R (Kilgore was the top vote getter that year)
2005
Governor - Tim Kaine - D
Lt. Governor - Bill Bolling - R
Attorney General - Bob McDonnell - R
So, although some people never see it, we actually picked up a statewide seat in 05.
Allen will win in November. But it will be closer than initially thought.
I don't care who people are supporting in 2008. We need to get Allen back to the Senate.
I wish some of our "friends" would shut the freep up.