The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
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| Republicans win big in Franklin County |
Bob McDonnell |
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
By JOEL TURNER - Staff Writer
Republican Bob McDonnell defeated Democrat Creigh Deeds easily in Franklin County in Tuesday's election as county voters stuck with their tradition of voting for GOP candidates in gubernatorial elections.
McDonnell also swept to victory statewide Tuesday as he beat Deeds to succeed Democrat Tim Kaine as governor in January.
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, McDonnell's running mate, and Ken Cuccinelli, the GOP candidate for attorney general, also won in Franklin County and statewide, giving the Republicans a sweep of the three offices in the county and statewide.
With 22 of Franklin County's 24 precincts reporting Tuesday night, McDonnell led Deeds by 9,574 to 4,363 votes, based on unofficial results for the county.
Statewide, McDonnell was also winning easily.
McDonnell was declared the winner in the governor's race by the Associated Press early in the evening.
McDonnell ran strong in Hampton Roads, Southwest and Southside Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. But Deeds ran strong in Northern Virginia.
Both McDonnell, a former attorney general from Virginia Beach, and Deeds, a state senator from Bath County, made campaign appearances in Franklin County.
Only once during the past two decades and five gubernatorial elections has a Democratic candidate for governor won in Franklin County.
In the race for lieutenant governor, Bolling handily defeated his Democratic challenger, Jody Wagner in Franklin County.
With 22 of Franklin County's 24 precincts reporting Tuesday night, Bolling received 9,168 votes in Franklin County, and Wagner received 4,649, based on unofficial results.
For the second time in four years, Bolling ran against a woman for lieutenant governor. In 2005, Bolling defeated Democrat Leslie Byrne, a former state senator, to become lieutenant governor.
Both Bolling and Wagner campaigned in Franklin County.
Bolling, the only statewide incumbent who was seeking re-election, brought his "Jobs for Virginians" Tour to the Ronile plant in Rocky Mount. He met with 20 business and political leaders to discuss jobs and the economy.
Bolling, a former state senator from Hanover County, outlined his proposals to help create jobs and revive the economy.
Wagner made a stop in Franklin County early in the campaign, speaking at a breakfast event at the home of Anne Carter Lee Gravely.
In the third statewide contest, Franklin County voters chose Republican Cuccinelli over Democrat Steve Shannon for attorney general.
With 22 of Franklin County's reporting Tuesday night, Cuccinelli had received 9,426 votes, and Shannon had received 4,315.
Cuccinelli is a state senator from Fairfax County.
Shannon, a former Fairfax County prosecutor, is a member of the House of Delegates.
Cuccinelli brought his campaign to Franklin County for a meet-and-greet event on the Franklin County Courthouse lawn.
Cuccinelli said he is a strong supporter of gun rights and the Second Amendment, preserving property rights and opposing abortion. Cuccinelli said he is an advocate for limited government and preserving the U.S. Constitution as it was written.
During the campaign, Shannon stressed his work for child safety and his role as co-founder of the AMBER Alert system in Northern Virginia. He also serves on the
Virginia Commission on Sexual Violence. |
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