Republicans strengthened their hold on the Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday, defeating at least six Democratic incumbents and setting the stage for the GOP to dominate the governing body well into the next decade.
Among the new Republican legislators is Chris P. Stolle, a Virginia Beach physician who defeated Del. Joe F. Bouchard, a Democrat, in the 83rd District race. Stolle's brother, Kenneth W. Stolle, a state senator, was elected the city's sheriff Tuesday.
Del. R.W. "Bobby" Mathieson, a Democrat, was in a close race with Beach City Council member Ron A. Villa-nueva, a Republican, in the 21st District. Villanueva was leading by a slim margin late Tuesday.
The other 14 incumbents from South Hampton Roads - Democrats and Republicans - won new two-year terms. They will be joined by newcomer Matthew James, a Democrat, who defeated Jennifer Lee, a Republican, to win the 80th District seat, which represents parts of Chesapeake, Norfolk and Portsmouth. James replaces longtime legislator Kenneth Melvin, who resigned this year and is now a Circuit Court judge.
With 100 House of Delegates seats up for election this year, 30 incumbents were unopposed in their reelection, including seven in South Hampton Roads.
The GOP lost at least two seats Tuesday. Del. Phil Hamilton, R-Newport News, who is the target of House ethics investigations, was defeated by Democrat Robin Abbott. The seat held by Del. Jeff Frederick, R-Woodbridge, who did not seek another term, went to a Democrat, Luke Torian.
The number of Democratic incumbents who lost was unusually high for Virginia. During the past 14 years, almost all incumbents were re-elected. In most years, no more than two were voted out of office in an election, according records compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project.
In picking up the extra seats, the Republicans virtually lock in their control of House legislative affairs for the next 10 years, said Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political science professor.
Under the current system, Republicans in the General Assembly will control the process in 2011 when the new lines are drawn after the 2010 U.S. Census. If past practices are followed, Republicans - as the party in power - could create House districts that favor their members and possibly force incumbent Democrats into the same district, where they would have to run against each other.
"When they gain that many seats, they're not going to do bipartisan redistricting - not a chance," said Sabato, who has long supported having an independent panel redraw lines for legislative and congressional districts every 10 years. "Why would they give away the hammer that they have? It would be politically stupid."
The bigger GOP majority also "nearly guarantees" that McDonnell's legislative programs will pass at least one house of the General Assembly, he said. Democrats still have a majority in the Senate; their 40 members are not up for election until 2011.
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
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Yep - horrible 8+ years vabchbob
Your words spoken like a true health insurance card carrying 'publican'.
Where have you been all this time? Glued to the radio shows of lush limbaugh and glenn wreck? Even moderate Republicans have acknowledged what a mess their own party has left this great country in. God bless us all vabchbob cause we are going to need it.
Yeah!
dems are such poor losers.
Last eight years were bad?
Only if you were a Democrap or supported Democraps.......the rest of America is doing just fine. My condolenses to the Pilot on a blown endosement BTW. Maybe now we can tone down the puke partisanism from the Dems and get something accomplished, like passing a State Amendment rejecting any form of mandated healthcare, if such an thing makes it's way out of DC.
The election
What a sad day for Virginia that her people have such short memories of the awful, at minimum, 8 years that we lived through with the Republicans having charge of this great country of ours. Before throwing out the baby with the bath water we should have allowed the Democrats more time to facilitate the change they are trying to make (to correct the wrongs done for so long). Then, over time, the power could have gone back to the Republicans or better yet to the independents. It is truly a sad day for us.
8 Years?
Democrats have controlled congress for the last 4 years, ANS my I remind you that the POTUS has NO authority to spend monies, ALL spending MUST come from Congress, in particular it must originate in the House! ; )
No inaction on transportation/roads/bridges!
McDonnell is on notice: refuse to cure the problems or drag your feet on these crucial Virginia necessities and we'll vote for Democrats state-wide next year!!!!!!!!!!
Numbers?
Does anyone know the final tally for the number of delegates held by each respective party now? The writer failed to mention that fact.
Sabato
"When they gain that many seats, they're not going to do bipartisan redistricting - not a chance," said Sabato, who has long supported having an independent panel redraw lines for legislative and congressional districts every 10 years. "Why would they give away the hammer that they have? It would be politically stupid."
Watch out every time a democrat talks bipartisan it means partisan on the Democrat's side!! I am sure that if the Democrats had the majority they would include the Republican's in to the power mix to redraw the lines, like they have in congress on all of the issues there. Democrats are known to be bipartisan. (Right)
HATE FILLED REPUBLICANS???
SamBear - you're dead wrong. We don't hate liberal Democrats, we just think they're misguided and uninformed and we actually pity them for the most part. Except for those that, like you, accuse us of hatred and call us crazy - those kinds of people we tend to actively dislike.
Perpective, not hate
Perhaps Sambear that it is perspective and n it hate? As an employer the acceptance of the funds could have spelled disaster for small businesses. You see, legislation is rarely ever rescinded, and to boot, no one could predict the future. To allow these funds could in fact have hurt you. You just do not see this.
From reading your words I would have to say the only person who who has bottled their hate for others is in fact you. You libeled an entire group of people because the do not agree with your views. Because they are different than you, in your words it makes them wrong. Even if your reasoning may be flawed. Your words are divisive and narcissistic, if not xenophobic.
"We don't need no stinkin'
small businesses!" - sign seen in DNC headquarters
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Virginians lost in today’s election, as no one held Bob McDonnell and the Republican delegates accountable for their dishonest, harmful, political games that caused Virginia to leave $125 million in unemployment funds unclaimed; thus, forcing our Governor to borrow $250 million for the unemployment program in these difficult times of high unemployment!
Bob McDonnell and his delegates put dishonest, political games above the best interests of all of Virginia’s citizens! There was no unfunded mandate for a permanent program; but rather, a $125 million grant to fund a $20 million program that could have been repealed by a GA vote in 2010!
Instead of working with our Governor to get the $125 million, Bob McDonnell and his delegates thought it more politically advantageous to give the one finger salute to our President, our Governor, and the people of Virginia; thus demonstrating that their dishonest, self-serving views and actions represent a real threat to the stability of Virginia’s economy and the overall wellbeing of all Virginians!
So today, 1.16 million enraged, hate filled, rightwing crazies gave Bob McDonnell the keys to the Governor’s mansion! Go figure?
The DISHONEST ones are those
The DISHONEST ones are those that don't tell all the strings that came with the bailout funds. You sound like a target for a no money down - no payments for a year deal and then complain when the bill comes due because you can't make the payments.
Newsflash...
Warner left Kaine...the chairman of the DNC...a $500,000,000 "surplus". That was taxation over and above the budget. Kaine, instead of returning it to the people/small business/companies who overpaid the state, squandered and blew it. Wow! And even if he didn't want to return it to us it could have been "saved" for times like these and it would have been there and no federal aid would even have been considered. Hate filled? I think your post says it all. God bless us every one...liberals AND conservatives!
You Democrates think its hate
Why is it that when Rebulicans or Conservatives do not agree with you Democrates or Liberals, they are so filled with hate? Maybe it is you Democrats/Liberals that are filled with hate because you people cannot stand it when you do not get your way and Republican/Conservatives finally grew a pair and started to push back and say no to the policies of the Libs. Get over it. The right people won!
It's Called Projection
Why is it that when Republicans or Conservatives do not agree with you Democrats or Liberals, they are so filled with hate?
It's called projection. The left is famous for accusing their opponents of exactly what they themselves are guilty of. Why? Well, since they feel this hate themselves, they assume everyone else does too. It's one of the major differences between the right and the left. The right believes the left is simply wrong. The left believes the right is evil.
The 125 Million didn't come
The 125 Million didn't come without a cost, it would have given unemployment benefits to people seeking part time work, and after it ran out in order to continue the program taxes would have to be raised. If memory serves we have a demcrat controlled state Senate seems like they could have done something about it. The GOP won pretty big last night, it should be a message.