FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) – Virginia GOP House Speaker William J. Howell has won re-election in the GOP primary, easily dispatching a tea party foe who was once his political protege.
With 100 percent of precincts counted, Howell defeated Susan Stimpson in Tuesday’s election 62 percent to 38 percent.
The long-time House speaker, first elected to the House 28 years ago, had a massive financial advantage over Stimpson. But Stimpson mounted an aggressive campaign with help from outside groups that have attacked Howell as pro-tax and anti-gun rights, stances the speaker has strongly denounced.
Some Howell voters in his Fredericksburg-area House district said they supported him because of his constituent-services work and criticized Stimpson for running a negative campaign. Some Stimpson supporters said Howell has been in office too long and become too cozy with special interests.
——————————————————————————————————-
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Dan Gecker has won the Democratic primary for a Richmond-area Senate district that will be a top target for both parties in the November general election.
Gecker, a Chesterfield Board of Supervisors member and developer, won with 53 percent of the vote over liberal challenger Emily Francis and former Del. Alexander McMurtrie, with 100 percent of the votes counted.
Senate District 10 is a swing seat currently belonging to retiring Republican Sen. John Watkins. Democrats need to pick up only one seat in order to regain control of the 40-member chamber, in which Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam casts tie-breaking votes.
Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe endorsed Gecker and the party is hoping Gecker can defeat Republican Glen Sturtevant in the fall and swing the Senate into Democratic control.
———————————————————————————————————
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Siobhan Dunnavant has won the Republican primary for a Richmond-area Senate district.
With 95 percent of the vote counted, Dunnavant had 38 percent. She defeated former Del. Bill Janis, the closest competitor with 30 percent, and Vincent Haley and Edward Whitlock.
Senate District 12 is a Republican-leaning district currently belonging to retiring Republican Sen. Walter Stosch, who endorsed Dunnavant. But Democrats could take a run at it as part of a statewide effort to try and take control of the state Senate. Democrats need to pick up only one seat in order to regain control of the 40-member chamber, in which Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam casts tie-breaking votes.
Janis and Dunnavant, an OB-GYN doctor, traded accusations during the campaign that the other was secretly hiding a liberal agenda.
(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
