The Virginia General Assembly elections yesterday maintained the political status quo for the most part with the Republicans gaining one seat in the Senate and the Democrats gaining at least two seats in the House of Delegates.
Before the election, Republicans controlled 64 seats in the House of Delegates and 23 in the Senate. Their Democratic counterparts held 34 seats in the House of Delegates and 17 in the Senate.
As of 2:30 a.m. this morning, with only the 6th district in the House remaining in limbo, the Republicans retained at least 59 of their House seats and picked up the 17th district, while the Democrats took three Republican seats for a net gain of two seats.
The Republicans gained one seat in the Senate in the 34th district, pushing the balance to 24 seats to 16.
Only one third of General Assembly candidates faced opposition in yesterday's races, largely because of redistricting efforts by Republicans in 2000 which protected many incumbents.
However, Albemarle Republican Party Chair Keith Drake said the effects of redistricting were felt more in the election two years ago than yesterday's elections.
Redistricting "was not a big deal this year," Drake said.
Albemarle Republicans celebrated the local and statewide Republican victories last night at Woffe's BBQ in Charlottesville.
Delegate Rob Bell, R-58, who ran unopposed for his second term, gave his victory speech to the Albemarle Republicans.
"It's a good night for taxpayers and students and a bad night for drunk drivers who beat their wives," Bell said.
Many Republicans have said they worry about the looming issue of tax reform which may mean increased taxes in the wake of the state deficit. Thus, many Republicans in the General Assembly who supported the sales tax hikes last year faced opponents in the June 13 primary.
Only one challenger actually beat an incumbent in the primary though. Jeff M. Frederick beat 16-year incumbent John A. "Jack" Rollison, III for the Republican Party nomination in the 52nd district. Frederick also went on to beat his Democratic opponent Charles F. Taylor in the general election yesterday.
Bell commented on the hot tax issue.
"Tax reform is alive, but I think it is unlikely there'll be a large tax increase given the Republican majority [in the General Assembly]," he said.
Fourth-year College student Matt Wells, who serves as the College Republican Federation of Virginia chair, said he also was skeptical about a tax increase because he said he believes the Virginia budget crisis only is due to the bad economy.
"Now that we're seeing the benefits of George W. Bush's tax cuts on the national level, we'll see a corresponding effect on the state level," Wells said.
Bell praised the efforts of local Republicans as well, saying there were "some strong candidates who knocked on a lot of doors."
In local elections, Drake said there was a minor shift to the right on the Board of Supervisors with a shift to the left on the school board.
Albemarle County Sheriff Ed Rob (R) also won his re-election campaign, garnering about 50 percent of the vote against his two opponents.
Drake added that although many think Albemarle County is largely conservative it's becoming increasingly liberal.
"The main factor is the changing demographics of Albermarle," he said. "The University grows ... and it's a great place to live so lots of retirees from the Northeast move here."
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