Last night, state Sen. Robert Hurt, R-Danville, defeated incumbent Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Charlottesville, in the Fifth District congressional race with about 50.8 percent of the vote.
Less than two hours after polls closed at 7 p.m., the race was called in favor of the Republican candidate, who ran on the campaign slogan of "a proven Conservative with Virginia Values."
At 8:45 p.m., a crowd trickled down South Main Street in the town of Chatham, the county seat of Hurt's native Pittsylvania County, to gather around the courthouse and receive the new congressman.
The crowd was made up of about 300 supporters, family members, media representatives and residents of the small town of about 1,300 inhabitants. Many were holding bunches of red, white and blue balloons or wearing stickers that read "Hurt for Congress."
Two minutes after 9 p.m., the crowd began to chant, "We want Hurt." Shortly thereafter, the new congressman, 41, emerged from the office he held as state senator, walked across the street and proceeded through the crowd, delivering handshakes and embraces.
Hurt made his way up the steps of the Pittsylvania County courthouse with his wife and three young boys, who were waving the 'Don't Tread on Me' flags commonly associated with the Tea Party movement of the American Revolution.
"We want renewed prosperity," Hurt said to the crowd. "We want a renewed American Dream."
He continued by thanking those who contributed to his campaign, and also thanked Perriello for his service to the district. Perriello was a freshman incumbent, and Hurt's victory restores the district to the Republican control that lasted for 12 years with Perriello's predecessor Virgil Goode.
"I have heard from people again and again. People are yearning for change, but not the change we got two years ago," Hurt said.
Hurt announced his intention to run for the congressional seat Oct. 7, 2009 and won the Republican candidacy June 8 this year. He secured nearly 50 percent of the votes during the primary, with six other Republican candidates on the ballot.
Hurt spoke of his supporters as "people that understand it is the private sector that creates jobs, not the government," adding that he was "so glad that tonight those people have spoken."
The advertisements released by Hurt throughout the campaign spoke of his intentions to fight tax increases, decrease the power of the federal government and create jobs in a district with very high unemployment rates. He continuously accused opponent Perriello of being a "rubber stamp" for President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Hurt led Perriello in nearly every poll since the primary elections, bringing national attention to the Fifth District. As a Democrat representing a traditionally conservative district, Perriello was continuously cited as one of the most endangered incumbents.
Isaac Wood, communications director at the Center for Politics and a former Cavalier Daily columnist, attributed Hurt's popularity to the national climate.
"Democrats have really had their support collapse over the past two years since Perriello was elected," Wood said. "And the district itself was conservative to begin with."
During his acceptance speech, Hurt spoke mostly of his intentions to help the economic situation in the state.
"Our duty is clear," Hurt said about solving the deficit to leave a legacy for future generations. "We have to allow folks to keep more of what they make."
Hurt said he did not lose sleep about election day.
"I have lost sleep about Nov. 3," he said. "That's when the hard work starts. That's when we find out if the newly elected will make a difference or not. Now is our time to hold our leaders accountable."
Despite the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives, Wood said Americans should not expect to see too much immediate change.
"Obama is still the president," he said, adding that the president's power of veto most likely will slow down the legislative process for any federal initiatives for the next two years.
The district that elected Hurt is the largest by land area in Virginia, covering all or part of 18 counties and an area of almost 9,000 square miles. The Fifth District also includes Longwood University, Hampden-Sydney College, Piedmont Virginia Community College and Liberty University.
A group of students from Liberty University's College Republicans and other volunteers for Hurt's campaign laughed together after the speech, adding that the 20,000 phone calls they made were worth the effort. One of them, Steven Osborne, said he was very hopeful because of Hurt's victory.
"We are seeing a wave of fresh congressman," he said. "I think they are really going to make a difference."
Hurt repeated his sentiments about the need to get to work in Washington.
"There are some who believe America's greatest days have come and gone," Hurt said before walking back down the steps of the courthouse with his family and inviting everyone in the crowd to join him for ham and biscuits at the Chatham Community Center. "I believe our greatest days are yet to come. Now is our time to go to work"
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