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| YOUR TOWN: Caroline | Culpeper | King George | Fredericksburg | Orange | Spotsylvania | Stafford | Westmoreland | |
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REPUBLICANS WIN AREA HOUSE SEATS
Republican incumbents Wittman, Cantor win Fredericksburg-area congressional races
Date published: 11/5/2008
By KELLY HANNON Democrats occupy both Virginia's Senate seats for the first time since 1970, but Fredericksburg-area congressional races yesterday were dominated by Republicans. GOP incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman won his first full term as congressman for Virginia's 1st District, and Republican Rep. Eric Cantor kept his 7th District seat for a fifth term. "I'm very humbled by the support that people have shown me and the confidence they have placed in me," said Wittman, who commutes back and forth to Capitol Hill from Westmoreland County most nights. At press time, Wittman won with nearly 58 percent of the vote. Wittman, 49, was elected to serve the remaining year of Rep. Jo Ann Davis' term in a special election. Davis died from breast cancer last fall. Wittman was sworn into office in December. He had previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates, on the Westmoreland Board of Supervisors, and Montross Town Council. Last night, Wittman celebrated his victory at Kiln Creek Golf Club in Newport News. Wittman said voters responded to his position on four core issues: the economy, energy, expanding access to health care and cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. "I think those are the things that are important to people," Wittman said. Wittman's opponent, Fauquier resident and Democrat Bill Day, 56, had 41 percent of the vote at press time. Day faced tough odds, since a Republican has held the 1st District congressional seat for 30 years. "I think we did better than we have in the past," he said. Day's campaign focused on expanding alternative energy sources, the economy and jobs, and universal health care. He congratulated Wittman on running a "clean and positive" campaign. "I have a lot of respect for him for that," Day said. He wouldn't rule out a run in the future. "It seems to be in my blood I'm certainly open to it," he said. Libertarian candidate Nathan Larson received 1percent of the votes in the 1st District congressional race. Cantor, 45, of Richmond, had never gotten less than 64 percent of the votes in his district, which includes parts of Caroline and Spotsylvania counties, along with Culpeper, Orange and Louisa counties.
Date published: 11/5/2008
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