2013 Virginia Attorney General election

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2013 Virginia Attorney General election
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  Mark Herring at McAuliffe rally.jpg Mark Obenshain (cropped).jpg
Nominee Mark Herring Mark Obenshain
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,105,0451,104,138
Percentage49.91%49.87%
2013 Virginia Attorney General election results map by county.svg
2013 VA ATG.svg
Herring:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Obenshain:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Tie:     50%
Attorney General before election

Ken Cuccinelli
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Mark Herring
Democratic

The 2013 Virginia Attorney General election took place on November 5, 2013, to elect the Attorney General of Virginia. The incumbent Attorney General, Republican Ken Cuccinelli, did not run for re-election. He was instead his party's nominee in the 2013 gubernatorial election.

Contents

On May 18, 2013, a Republican state convention in Richmond nominated State Senator Mark Obenshain over State Delegate Rob Bell. [1] The Democratic primary on June 11, 2013, was won by State Senator Mark Herring, who defeated former Assistant United States Attorney Justin Fairfax. [2]

While the statewide elections for governor and lieutenant governor garnered more national attention, the race for attorney general was the most competitive. [3] Obenshain had an election night lead of 1,200 votes. In the following days, as provisional ballots were counted, Herring narrowed the lead and ultimately overtook him. [4] On November 25, the Virginia State Board of Elections certified the results and Herring was declared the winner by 1,103,777 votes to 1,103,612 – a difference of 165 votes out of more than 2.2 million cast, or 0.007%. [5] [6] [7]

After the certification, Obenshain requested a recount, [8] which began on December 16. [9] Obenshain conceded the election on December 18, and later that day, the recount ended with Herring winning by 907 votes, or 0.04%. [10] Democrats held the Attorney General's office for the first time since 1994, and with Herring's victory, Democrats held all five statewide offices – including both U.S. Senate seats – for the first time since 1970.

Republican nomination

Candidates

Nominated at convention

Defeated at convention

Withdrew

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Justin
Fairfax		Mark
Herring		OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling [17] May 24–26, 2013322± 5.5%19%22%—59%

Results

Results by county: Herring .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Herring--80-90% Herring--70-80% Herring--60-70% Herring--50-60% Tie Tie Fairfax Fairfax--50-60% Fairfax--60-70% Fairfax--70-80% Fairfax--80-90% Virginia Democratic attorney general primary results by county, 2013.svg
Results by county:
Herring
  •   Herring—80–90%
  •   Herring—70–80%
  •   Herring—60–70%
  •   Herring—50–60%
Tie
  •   Tie
Fairfax
  •   Fairfax—50–60%
  •   Fairfax—60–70%
  •   Fairfax—70–80%
  •   Fairfax—80–90%
Virginia Attorney General Democratic primary, 2013 [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Mark Herring 72,861 51.66%
Democratic Justin Fairfax 68,17748.34%
Majority4,6843.32%
Turnout 141,038

General election

Endorsements

Mark Herring (D)

Current and former statewide politicians

Newspapers

Organizations

  • Virginia Police Benevolent Association [21]
Mark Obenshain (R)

Elected Officials

Others

  • John Brownlee, former United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia and 2009 candidate for the Republican nomination for Attorney General [24]

Newspapers

Organizations

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
Sabato's Crystal Ball [28] Lean D (flip)October 24, 2013

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Mark
Obenshain (R)		Mark
Herring (D)		OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling [29] November 2–3, 2013870± 3.3%45%47%—8%
Christopher Newport University [30] October 25–30, 20131,038± 3%45%43%—12%
Public Policy Polling [31] October 26–27, 2013709 EV ± 3.6%42%54%—3%
Hampton University [32] October 24, 26–27, 2013800± 2.9%45%39%—16%
Washington Post/Abt SRBI [33] October 24–27, 2013762± 4.5%46%49%—4%
Roanoke College [34] October 21–27, 2013838± 3.4%35%46%—20%
Christopher Newport University [35] October 8–13, 2013753± 3.6%46%45%—9%
Watson Center [36] October 1–6, 2013886± 3.1%42%45%—14%
Roanoke College [37] September 30–October 5, 20131,046± 3%38%35%—26%
Hampton University [38] September 25–29, 2013800± 2.9%41%37%—23%
University of Mary Washington [39] September 25–29, 2013559± 4.7%42%36%6%16%
Washington Post/Abt SRBI [40] September 19–22, 2013562± 5%42%45%—14%
Conquest Communications [41] September 19, 2013400±5%35.8%24.5%—39.8%
NBC/Marist [42] September 17–19, 2013546± 3%34%39%—26%
Roanoke College [43] September 9–15, 2013874± 3.3%31%33%—34%
Public Policy Polling [44] July 11–14, 2013601± 4%36%38%—25%
Roanoke College [45] July 8–14, 2013525± 4.3%33%29%—38%
Public Policy Polling [17] May 24–26, 2013672± 3.8%32%33%—34%
Hypothetical polling
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Mark
Obenshain (R)		Justin
Fairfax (D)		OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling [17] May 24–26, 2013672± 3.8%32%30%—38%

Initial results

Virginia Attorney General election, 2013 [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Mark Herring 1,103,777 49.89% +7.60%
Republican Mark Obenshain 1,103,61249.88%−7.63%
Write-in 4,8920.22%+0.13%
Majority1650.01%
Turnout 2,212,281
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

Recount

It was widely reported that a recount was expected after the results were certified on November 25, 2013. According to the Virginia Board of Elections rules, as updated for the November 2013 election: "there are no automatic recounts. Only an apparent losing candidate can ask for a recount, and only if the difference between the apparent winning candidate and that apparent losing candidates is not more than one percent (1%) of the total votes cast for those two candidates." [46] This race is the second of the past three Virginia attorney general elections to go to a recount. In the 2005 race, Bob McDonnell won by 360 votes, with the result certified in December. [47]

Results

Virginia Attorney General election, 2013 [5] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Mark Herring 1,105,045 49.91% +7.62%
Republican Mark Obenshain 1,104,13849.87%−7.64%
Write-in 4,8920.22%+0.13%
Majority9070.04%
Turnout 2,214,075
Democratic gain from Republican Swing
By congressional district

Despite losing the state, Obenshain won 7 of 11 congressional districts, while Herring won 4, including one held by a Republican. [48]

DistrictObenshainHerringRepresentative
1st 56%44% Rob Wittman
2nd 52%48% Scott Rigell
3rd 23%77% Robert C. Scott
4th 53%47% Randy Forbes
5th 57%43% Robert Hurt
6th 64%36% Bob Goodlatte
7th 58%42% Eric Cantor
8th 29%71% Jim Moran
9th 67%33% Morgan Griffith
10th 49.999%50.001% Frank Wolf
11th 37%63% Gerry Connolly

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Schmidt, Markus; Nolan, Jim (May 18, 2013). "Virginia GOP convention: Obenshain nominee for AG". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Schmidt, Markus (June 12, 2013). "Northam, Herring complete Democratic ticket". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Virginia Attorney General race: Candidates appoint transition teams in too close to call election". wjla.com. November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  4. ↑ Brett logiurato (November 13, 2013). "The Most Exciting Election In America Is Coming Down To The Wire". Business Insider. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "Virginia Board of Elections - Election Night Results". November 7, 2013. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  6. ↑ Vozzella, Laura (November 25, 2013). "Herring wins Virginia attorney general race, elections board announces". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  7. ↑ Rogers, Alex (November 13, 2013). "With 164 Vote Attorney General Victory, Virginia Democrats Sweep State". Time Magazine. Swampland. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Obenshain to request recount in attorney general race". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 26, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Virginia AG race recount slated for week of Dec. 16 as campaigns spar in court over rules". The Washington Post . December 4, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  10. 1 2 Ress, Dave (December 19, 2013). "It's official: Recount results show 907 vote margin for Herring". Daily Press . Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  11. ↑ Nolan, Jim (December 3, 2011). "Obenshain announces interest in attorney general seat". Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  12. 1 2 Kumar, Anita (July 24, 2012). "Sen. Mark Herring to run for attorney general in 2013". The Washington Post . Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Republican John Frey withdrawing from Virginia's attorney general race". The Washington Post . November 27, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.[ dead link ]
  14. ↑ Wilson, Todd Allen (September 14, 2012). "3rd Dem enters 2013 A.G. race". The Daily Press . Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  15. ↑ Walker, Julian (November 15, 2012). "Signer (D) declines AG bid, endorses Herring". The Virginian-Pilot . Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  16. ↑ Sluss, Michael (December 3, 2012). "Former Del. Ward Armstrong won't run statewide in 2013". The Roanoke Times . Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  17. 1 2 3 Public Policy Polling
  18. ↑ "Race details at". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  19. ↑ Herring for attorney general The Virginian Pilot September 10, 2013
  20. ↑ Virginia endorsements: Ralph Northam and Mark Herring The Washington Post October 15, 2013
  21. ↑ "The Virginia Police Benevolent Association announces endorsement of Mark Herring for Attorney General". Sspba.org. August 30, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  22. ↑ Chase endorses Obenshain Star-Exponent October 5, 2013
  23. ↑ Mark Obenshain snags endorsement of former Newport News senator Marty Williams Daily Press September 10, 2013
  24. ↑ Obenshain endorsed by former AG candidate PilotOnline.com February 15, 2013
  25. ↑ Editorial: Obenshain for AG Richmond Times-Dispatch October 20, 2013
  26. ↑ For attorney general: Obenshain The Richmond Times October 30, 2013
  27. ↑ Obenshain: The experience to solve problems Richmond Times-Dispatch October 24, 2013
  28. ↑ "Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » RATINGS CHANGE: A DEMOCRATIC TIDE IN VIRGINIA". centerforpolitics.org.
  29. ↑ Public Policy Polling
  30. ↑ Christopher Newport University
  31. ↑ Public Policy Polling
  32. ↑ Hampton University
  33. ↑ Washington Post/Abt SRBI
  34. ↑ Roanoke College
  35. ↑ Christopher Newport University
  36. ↑ Watson Center
  37. ↑ Roanoke College
  38. ↑ Hampton University
  39. ↑ University of Mary Washington
  40. ↑ Washington Post/Abt SRBI
  41. ↑ Conquest Communications
  42. ↑ NBC/Marist
  43. ↑ Roanoke College
  44. ↑ Public Policy Polling
  45. ↑ Roanoke College
  46. ↑ "Commonwealth of Virginia State Board of Elections. Virginia Election Recounts and Contests -- The Basics" (PDF). November 7, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  47. ↑ "Herring, Obenshain may face recount in Va. AG's race; December outcome likely". The Washington Post. November 6, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  48. ↑ "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts". Daily Kos. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
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