Posted on 12/12/2007 6:33:14 AM PST by NYC Republican
Republicans maintained control of both congressional seats that were up for grabs in special elections Tuesday in Ohio and Virginia, disappointing Democrats who had hoped to extend their gains in the House.
In Ohio, a state representative defeated a Democrat making her third run for the seat. And in Virginia, a first-term state legislator easily won.
Both elections were to fill seats left vacant by deaths. Jo Ann Davis, who had represented a southeastern Virginia district for seven years, died of breast cancer in October. Rep. Paul Gillmor, first elected in a northwest Ohio district in 1988, died in a fall in September.
The winners of both races will complete the terms of Gillmor and Davis.
Democrats, who won control of the House last year 233-202, had hoped to benefit from the low turnout typical of special elections.
In Ohio, Republicans have held the state's 5th District since the 1930s. At times, Democrats have all but conceded the seat by spending little money and trotting out candidates with limited political experience.
Bob Latta, a Republican state representative, had 57 percent of the vote and Democrat Robin Weirauch had 43 percent with 100 percent of the vote counted.
"I hope to continue representing this district in the same honor and integrity of Paul Gillmor and my father before him," Latta said in a statement.
Latta ran for Congress in 1988, trying to replace his father, Delbert Latta, who held the seat for 30 years. But he lost in the GOP primary to Gillmor by 27 votes.
Weirauch, 50, was on her third run for the seat. Last year she received more votes - 43 percent - than any other Democrat in the district's history.
In Virginia, Rob Wittman, a first-term Republican state legislator, got about 61 percent of the vote over Democrat Philip Forgit's nearly 37 percent, with 100 percent of votes counted. Only about 15 percent of registered voters turned out.
Wittman had a nearly 4-to-1 fundraising advantage and the benefit of being a Republican in a district where President Bush got 60 percent of the vote in 2004.
Forgit, a teacher, is a decorated military veteran in a district that includes the Quantico Marine base, the Army's Fort A.P. Hill and a Navy weapons testing center. Forgit went to Iraq with his Naval Reserve unit, returning in 2006.
Why hasn’t the MSM gone wall to wall with this breaking news like they did with special elections in 2005? Then, they said a Democrat win would be a bad sign of things to come for the GOP. Shouldn’t these elections therefore be bad signs for things to come for Pelosi and friends?
Who can tell... how many Reps and Senators in office now, both sides of the aisle, are empty suits?
Take it easy on him, we’ve all been disappointed by our elite leaders lately. But I’ll take the good news that it is.
Latta’s campaign ads, at least, were pretty hardcore: “enforce our borders, protect our young, punch the hippies”, that sort of thing.
Latta’s campaign ads, at least, were pretty hardcore: “enforce our borders, protect our young, punch the hippies”, that sort of thing.
I never saw anything from any media outlet saying Dems had a chance at the Virginia seat. In fact, they said whomever won the Republican convention was assured the seat.
There was some speculation about the Ohio seat possibly going Dem, but not much.
I would imagine the pretty-much-predetermined outcome is why there wasn’t much coverage of either race. Since the seats were vacated because the incumbent died, rather than doing illegal things, it’s not like there was much interest or a reason to vote against the incumbent’s party.
That is a great point. Why isnt the MSM going off on these “bellweather” or “leading indicator” off year elections?
“enforce our borders, protect our young, punch the hippies”
Works for me.
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