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| Tue, Nov. 24 - - Mobile - RSS | |
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Kaine victorious
Democrats hold on to governor’s seat; Bolling wins No. 2; Attorney general race close.Date published: 11/8/2005
RICHMOND—Virginians last night chose Democrat Tim Kaine as the 70th governor of Virginia, closing a bitter and hard-fought campaign. Kaine, a former Richmond mayor and current lieutenant governor, took 51.6 percent of the vote to edge out Republican Jerry Kilgore, a former attorney general who got 46.1 percent of the vote, according to unofficial returns with 98 percent of the precincts reporting. Cheers erupted in the Richmond Marriott Ballroom, where Democrats had gathered, when it was announced just after 9 p.m. that the Associated Press had called the race for Kaine. Kilgore publicly conceded the race about an hour later. Independent candidate Russ Potts, a Republican state senator from Winchester, garnered just 2 percent of votes, and Kaine’s victory defies earlier speculation that Potts would take votes from Kaine. Kaine, accompanied by his family, Gov. Mark Warner and former governor Doug Wilder, both of whom campaigned for him in recent weeks, took to the stage before a roaring crowd at 11 p.m., in time for television stations to carry his victory speech live. “We’ve done it!,” Kaine said. “Tonight we’ve proved the naysayers wrong. We’ve proved that Virginians want governors who put partisanship aside and govern from a sensible middle…. There has not been a more humble and exciting night in my life.” Kaine said voters want a governor to put partisanship aside and value fiscal responsibility over ideological bickering. “Virginians want a government that has a positive vision about moving this Commonwealth forward,” he said. In his concession speech, Kilgore congratulated Kaine, and thanked him for his public service. “He and I disagree on policy, but we do agree on Virginia,” Kilgore said. “I wish him well. I wish him good luck as he serves as the next governor of Virginia. … we share the same love of Virginia.” Kilgore comforted his supporters, telling them they’d given it their all. “There is no reason tonight to hold your heads in defeat. There is every reason to look up in pride,” he said. “I fought the good fight, I finished the course, I’ve kept the faith. Thank you, Virginia.” Potts, conceding the race early in calls to reporters, said he has no regrets.
Date published: 11/8/2005
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