Northam holds off Loyola's challenge in 6th District

NORFOLK

Democrat Ralph Northam outpaced his Republican challenger in a district that straddles cities and counties on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay.

Northam spent about a third of the $1.1 million he spent in his first run for the Senate in 2007.

Ben Loyola Jr. had strong support from leading Republicans and spent almost $173,000, including in-kind expenses, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. He had top contributions from both the Republican Party and tea party backers, but he lost in his second bid for public office.

Loyola, 49, ran unsuccessfully in 2009 in the Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District against Scott Rigell, who went on to win the general election.

Throughout his campaign, Loyola pitched lower taxes and less government as the remedy for the economy, unemployment and other ills.

The self-described conservative conceded the race to Northam about 9 p.m. Tuesday, according to Isaac Dietrich, his campaign manager.

Dietrich said Loyola sent his best wishes to Northam and that he "looks forward to working with him to best serve the citizens of the 6th District."

The Senate district includes a large portion of Norfolk, one precinct in Virginia Beach, and Mathews County on this side of the Bay, and Accomack and Northampton counties on the Eastern Shore.

Northam, 52, an East Beach resident and a pediatric neurologist at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, has strong ties to both Norfolk and the Eastern Shore, where he grew up.

When he decided to run for re-election, he told people, including his consultants, that he wanted to run a positive campaign.

"The people out there are getting fed up with the bickering and the mudslinging, and so let this campaign be a model," Northam said Tuesday night.

Throughout his campaign the Democratic incumbent touted his ability to cross the aisle and work with Republicans.

"I would encourage you to be encouraged," he said Tuesday.

"Together, if we all work together, we can continue to make this commonwealth - we can continue to make this country - one of the best places to live."

"There are things that are important to me and I know they're important to you - the environment and health care and transportation," he said. "And I could go on and on."

Northam, during his campaign, said the state needs to form a bipartisan commission to come up with a plan to solve transportation problems.

He has also talked of the need to improve education, from preschool to college and vocational programs.

Janie Bryant, (757) 446-2453, janie.bryant@pilotonline.com