DANVILLE, Va. -- Republican Congressman Virgil Goode retained his seat in Virginia's 5th District Congressional race yesterday with a solid 64 percent of the vote, defeating Democratic opponent Meredith Richards.
Goode, who was first elected to the Virginia State Senate in 1973, originally ran for U.S. Congress as a Democrat in 1996, but left the party to become an Independent after his 1998 re-election and eventually joined the Republican Party.
A crowd of supporters at the Carrington Conference Center eagerly watched two laptops connected to the Internet for updates.
"I don't think I could go back to Franklin County if he didn't win," said campaign volunteer Lottie Walker, who said she has known Goode for over 30 years. "I think he knows more about our area than his opponent does. And he knows about people. He's just a wonderful person."
Under a large banner declaring "This is Virgil Goode Country," supporters, including retirees, businessmen and state officials, gathered to celebrate their candidate's re-election.
"Congressman Goode is a strong supporter of fair trade," said Charlotte County resident Ken Morgan, who manages a lumber-manufacturing corporation and has worked closely with Goode. "He understands our needs and works hard to address the needs of his constituents. He does what's right and backs up what he says."
At 9 p.m., the crowd's anxiety ended when Goode arrived to greet his sign-toting supporters, many of whom adorned themselves with red campaign buttons.
As he greeted the local press, it was announced that, with all but six precincts reporting, the vote tally stood at 92,568 to 52,605. The room echoed with claps and cheers as it grew clear that Goode had defeated Richards.
Final totals came to 94, 631 votes for Goode and 54, 299 for Richards.
"There was just no way she could win," Walker said, adding that it was her family's tobacco farm that was featured in one of Goode's television ads. "I didn't think she would get as many votes as she did though."
After taking a phone call of congratulations from Republican U.S. Sen. George Allen, Goode took the podium.
"The candidate does not win the campaign," Goode said in a thick, Southwestern Virginia accent. "We were short on staff in numbers but we were long on staff in quality and hard work. If we hadn't had grass roots workers, we wouldn't have made it."
He mentioned several issues he plans to address when he returns to Washington.
"There's still some unfinished business on the table," he said, referring to appropriations bills and prescription drug benefits.
Chase City resident Julian Hudson said he was impressed with Goode's ability to cover the 5th District's spread-out constituency.
Goode is "very responsive to the individual needs of the constituents in his district. And that says a lot because his district covers an enormous geographical area," Hudson said. "Mr. Goode has served us well and I think he will continue to serve us."
State Del. Clark Hogan, R-Longwood, agreed with Hudson.
"I think the values that [Goode] represents are across party lines," Hogan said. "You can call Virgil Goode's office in Washington and he'll call you back -- personally."
While some supporters confessed to voting for Goode only after his crossover to the Republican Party in 2000, most of them regarded his decision as testimony to the strength of his convictions.
"He was extremely unselfish," Hudson said. "It wasn't what was best for Virgil Goode but for the 5th District. He has a strong, strong conviction of what is right and what is wrong -- it would just be a catastrophe to lose someone who works so hard for his constituents."
Following his short speech, Goode shook hands with supporters and posed for pictures with volunteers. When asked about his favorite part of being a Congressman, he immediately answered.
"Being able to get things done for the 5th District." Asked how long he intends to serve, Goode said, "it's up to the voters."
If the supporters who turned out to Goode's victory party are indicative of the district, that might just be a long time.
"When he was a Democrat, we supported him, when he was an Independent, we did, and now that he's a Republican we still do," Walker said.
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