NoVA Speaks Up

Virginia’s Governor Warner has launched his presidential campaign with a bang – winning the off-year election to succeed him for his current lieutenant, Tim Kaine. The margin, 52%-46%, was actually larger than Warner’s four years ago, although it has few coattails as the other two statewide contests are leaning Republican at this hour and the state legislature is only seeing modest gains for the Democrats of maybe 1-2 seats.

But as big a story as that is, the election results would not be possible if it weren’t for the loud and consistent voice of Northern Virginia – the DC suburbs delivered a knockout punch to Kilgore, giving Democrat Kaine 75% in Arlington, 70% in Alexandria, and a massive 60% in normally Republican Fairfax county. Kaine also won the exurbs in Loundon and Prince Williams counties – something Warner couldn’t even accomplish.

The margins were big enough to deliver a number of victories in close contests for the state legislature and were only mildly offset by victories elsewhere in the state.

It was quite an impressive night for the Democrats. Let’s see if it was a Warner victory, or a sign of things to come in 2006, eh?