Democrat wins Virginia Senate recount, giving Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s agenda a crucial boost 27JAN14

WELL, it is official, and the Democrats will control the Senate in Richmond while the gop / tea-baggers will control the House, with a Democrat as governor. Congratulations state Sen Jennifer Wexton D, state Sen Lynwood Lewis D and VIRGINIA!!!!!. Kinda sounds like the US Congress and White House, doesn't it? We can only hope our Commonwealth government is able to work together for the good of all Virginians and not just those with money. That means no third way democratic kow-towing to repiglican demands, no more class warfare being waged by the rich and corporate Virginia as well as our elected officials. It does mean social justice and a restoration of Virginia's social contract so all pay their fair share for the benefit of the entire state. It will be interesting to see how this session of the Commonwealth's General Assembly plays out. From the Washington Post....

Stephen M. Katz/Associated Press - Democrat Lynwood W. Lewis Jr. thanks supporters and staff for their efforts during his victory celebration on Jan. 7 at Guad's in Norfolk, Va.

By Laura Vozzella, Updated: Monday, January 27, 4:29 PM E-mail the writer

VIRGINIA BEACH — State Del. Lynwood W. Lewis Jr. has won the recount for a Hampton Roads Senate seat, throwing control of the Virginia Senate to Democrats and giving Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s first-year agenda a crucial boost.
Lewis’s slim lead over Republican Wayne Coleman grew from nine to 11 votes over the course of the recount Monday, which Republicans and Democrats had watched closely given its outsize importance to the balance of power in Richmond. Although the candidates were still awaiting an official ruling from a three-judge panel, Coleman acknowledged the outcome just after 4 p.m. Monday.

(Jay Diem/Associated Press) - An unidentified woman steps over an icy puddle after casting her ballot in the special election for the District 6 seat of the Virginia Senate at the Onley, Va., polling site on Jan. 7.

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His victory gives Democrats new leverage in the General Assembly, where the House of Delegates is overwhelmingly Republican — and overwhelmingly opposed to several of McAuliffe’s priorities. The new Democratic governor is trying to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, but many other issues, including increased public school funding, gun control and gay marriage are also being examined.
Election officials in five localities, including Norfolk and Virginia Beach, recounted results Monday in the special election for the state Senate seat vacated this month by Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam (D). The district includes parts of Norfolk, Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore.
Lewis (D-Accomack) had been certified by the State Board of Elections as the winner of the Jan. 7 contest to fill the state Senate seat vacated this month by Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam (D). His slim margin — nine votes out of more than 20,000 cast — entitled Coleman, a shipping company owner, to request a recount paid for by local governments.
The recount became all the more crucial last week, when Democrats kept the Northern Virginia seat previously held by Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D).
With Lewis’s victory, the chamber will remain evenly split, 20-20, but power will shift to Democrats, with Northam serving as the tie-breaking vote.
Before Northam’s inauguration this month, Republicans controlled the chamber with the tie-breaking vote of Northam’s predecessor, Republican Bill Bolling.
Several Democrats have said that, with Lewis’s victory, they intend to reorganize the Senate to take control — a plan that Republicans will protest. Some Republicans have suggested that Democrats need a two-thirds majority to change the chamber rules off-cycle. In 2012, after the last set of Senate-wide elections, Republicans took control of the chamber — including leadership positions and crucial committee chairmanships — with Bolling’s support. Democrats argued that the lieutenant governor is not allowed to vote in such organizational matters, but Republicans went ahead anyway.
If Republicans try to make the same argument, Democrats will point to the GOP’s precedent.
A three-judge panel still must certify the results, but they have already dispatched with all of the challenged ballots.
“I’m disappointed for the folks who voted for me,” Coleman said as he left the courthouse Monday. “But we improved the system with this race and surprised a lot of people.”
Each locality in the 6th Senate District began recounting its ballots at 8 a.m. Monday, with representatives from both campaigns on hand to observe the process. Ballots that local officials couldn’t agree on were sent to a special three-judge panel meeting in Virginia Beach to resolve.
In Norfolk, there were four challenged ballots — two for each candidate — but no other changes, according to Wendell D. Brown, secretary of the Norfolk Electoral Board.
Austin Chambers, campaign manager for Coleman, said there were a number of problems in Norfolk during the recount, including instances in which the number of voters checked in with poll books at certain precincts did not match the number of ballots cast.
Chambers also said the machine used to recount absentee ballots was broken, so they were recounted twice by hand. The hand recount yielded a different result each time, so the ballots were recounted a third time with the machine, which had been fixed, Chambers said.
A similar procedure unfolded on a statewide scale last month, as Herring’s victory in the attorney general’s race was also decided by a recount.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/monday-recount-will-decide-control-of-the-va-senate--and-fate-of-mcauliffe-agenda/2014/01/27/e93a2846-8756-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html?wpisrc=al_lclpolitics 

From Jennifer Boysko & Herndon Patch, the 86th District Delegate Race: Boysko-Rust Recount Results 19DEZ13

32 votes. That is the number of votes tom rust won reelection as delegate by after the recount results that were announced today. 32 votes. rust is used to winning by 32% (or more), he has never had to work so hard to keep his seat. He better realize the 86th district isn't tea-bagger country and he has a responsibility to represent all the people of this district and not kow-tow to his political bosses in Richmond. AND THANK YOU JENNIFER BOYSKO FOR A RACE WELL RUN AND FOR INSPIRING US AND GIVING US HOPE. WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU!!!!!! From Jennifer Boysko and  Herndon Patch....

Dear friends,

 

The recount has ended and I called to congratulate Tom Rust and wish him a successful term in the House of Delegates as soon as I received the news.  

 

When all of the votes were finally counted today, I learned that we came up 32 votes short.  The final tally was:

Boysko 10378

Rust 10410

 

It was a hard fought fight and I am so proud of what we did. Thank you for your strong support and friendship over the past year. It was important for so many people that we took this time to assure that all votes were counted and everyone's voice was heard in this very close election. It was an honor to be the Democratic nominee and I appreciate having the opportunity to discuss those issues that matter to all of us during the past year with the voters in the 86th District.

 

I owe a special word of thanks to my core team members who have been with me through thick and thin:

 

Taylor McLeod, my manager

Brad Flemming, my finance director

Henry Jackson, my field director 

Dadly Cordero, my communications director

Les Halpern, my treasurer

 

And to all of you who have cheered me on, talked to me at your doorsteps or on the phone, donated your money and time, I say thank you.  I plan to run again in 2015 and hope to have you by my side once more.

 

Finally, I want to acknowledge my family who stood by me, picked up the slack at home and served as my biggest supporters: Glenn, Hannah, Sophie Claire, as well as my mom Dianne (a Republican from Alabama) and my mother-in-law Judy (a Democrat from Ohio), who were here for both the primary and general elections helping me get out the vote. I love you all dearly.

 

I ran for office because I want good government.  When we all participate, using our voices and taking part in this process, we will have it. We had a tremendous run, winning all of the Statewide races. You did that and I want to say thank you. Thank you and happy holidays.

 

Warmest regards,

 

Jennifer

The race was the tightest in all of Virginia this year.

Posted by Jennifer van der Kleut (Editor) , December 19, 2013 at 06:53 PM

With the recount complete, Tom Rust has officially won re-election as Delegate to the 86th District. (Courtesy Photo)

As the results of the recount in the 86th District Delegate race were reported Thursday, Democrat Jennifer Boysko conceded to Republican Tom Rust, who has held the seat since 2002.

The race was the closest of any in Virginia this year.

State-certified tallies in November had Boysko trailing Rust by just 54 votes, out of more than 21,000 cast in the district, which encompasses Herndon and parts of Oak Hill and Sterling.

After the recount, she was down just 32.

The final totals were: Rust with 10,410, and Boysko with 10,378.

Boysko issued a statement just before 6 p.m. Thursday.

"I'd like to congratulate Tom Rust and wish him a successful term in the House of Delegates," she said.

As for the recount, Boysko said, "It was important for so many people that we took this time to assure that all votes were counted and everyone's voice was heard in this very close election."

Boysko, a former aide to Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust, who also previously worked with Howard Dean, launched her campaign in January, and won the Democratic nomination in the June primary with more than 77 percent of the vote.

"It was an honor to be the Democratic nominee and I appreciate having the opportunity to discuss those issues that matter to all of us during the past year with the voters in the 86th District," she said Thursday.
http://herndon.patch.com/groups/elections/p/86th-district-delegate-race-boyskorust-recount-results

Recount, 86th District House of Delegates election 4DEZ13

I am so glad Jennifer filed for a recount, it is important that every vote is counted. Here is an update from her and her campaign staff....

 

What an extraordinary race! With your help, we spent this year speaking to voters about issues that are important to them, connecting with our neighbors, and forcing my opponent to be accountable for his record.  When you chose to share your time and talent volunteering for our campaign you helped make it possible to reach so many more than we could have done alone and we are so grateful. This was truly a grassroots race for regular people about regular people, not special interests.  Even though we were outspent nearly two to one, with our amazing grassroots support and hard work, it was the closest margin and the best campaign that Virginia’s 86^th District has ever seen. It was also the closest House of Delegates race in the entire state. I must also congratulate Mr. Rust on a spirited and lively campaign.

The State Board of Elections certified the election results last week and you may already know that out of 20,775 votes we came 54 votes short of victory. The margin is so small that we are eligible for a recount. Many of you have expressed your hope that we will move forward with that process. Yesterday our attorneys filed the petition. It has been a real nail biter, but all will be resolved in the next few weeks and we will accept the result knowing that every vote has been counted.

No matter what the outcome ultimately shows there is so much for which we can be proud. We made an incredible statement. Our message truly resonates with folks here in the 86^th and across Virginia: Our policy makers in Richmond need to focus on kitchen table issues instead of socially divisive ones. I hope our legislators take note.

No matter what, I will not give up fighting for what I believe are the right and just causes. I will continue to advocate for education. I will continue stand up for women's health. I will continue to work to protect our most vulnerable and the civil rights of all. I will continue to be there with you and plan to run again in 2015.

This campaign has always been about the people in our community, and without you, our campaign could not have made such an impact. We are enormously grateful for what you did.  Thank you for taking this amazing journey with me and my staff.

 

Kindest regards,

Jennifer Boysko                 Taylor McLeod                    Henry Jackson

 

 

 

 

Paid for and Authorized by Boysko for Delegate

Boysko for Delegate
PO Box 247
Herndon, VA 20172-0247

VIRGINIA GOVERNOR, LT GOV, ATTORNEY GEN AND 86TH DIST ELECT RESULTS 5NOV13

The results for delegate 86th District

House of Delegates - District 86 - General 17 of 17 Precincts Reporting - 100% Name Party Votes Vote % Boysko, Jennifer Dem 10,479 51% Rust, Thomas (i) GOP 10,231 49%
Now, just minutes later, the results have changed to

House of Delegates - District 86 - General 17 of 17 Precincts Reporting - 100% Name Party Votes Vote % Rust, Thomas (i) GOP 10,383 50% Boysko, Jennifer Dem 10,327 50% JENNIFER, GO FOR A RECOUNT! http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2013/by_state/VA_Page_1105.html?SITE=VARITELN&SECTION=POLITICS By a Hair, Tom Rust Wins Re-Election as Herndon's Delegate Just 56 votes called the election for the Republican incumbent. Posted by Jennifer van der Kleut (Editor) , November 05, 2013 at 11:44 PM 3 Comments  Recommend Republican incumbent Tom Rust won re-election as Delegate to Herndon's 86th District by just 56 votes Tuesday night. (Courtesy Photo) One almost couldn't take their eyes off the totals all night, as the lead bounced back and forth between the two candidates like a ball on a tennis court. In the end, 56 votes is what won the election for Republican and longtime Delegate Tom Rust, Herndon's Delegate to the 86th District. The final unofficial total with 17 out of 17 precincts reporting were as follows: TOM RUST: 10,383 (50.02%) JENNIFER BOYSKO: 10,327 (49.75%) Rust has held the 86th District's seat in the House of Delegates since 2002. Recently, Speaker of the House William Howell said, if re-elected, he would name Rust as the chair of the House Transportation Committee at the start of the 2014 session. Rust currently serves on the Education committee, where he is the chair of the Higher Education subcommittee; the Transportation committee, where he is the chair of the Transportation Policy subcommittee; the Commerce and Labor committee, and on the Science and Technology committee, where he serves as vice chair. Editor's Note: Patch will check in with the Fairfax County Electoral Board Wednesday as to whether there will be a recount as the totals were so close. We will alert readers to that information as soon as possible. Results for Governor, Lt Gov and Attorney General http://herndon.patch.com/groups/elections/p/by-a-hair-tom-rust-wins-reelection-as-herndons-delegate Posted: 11/05/2013 10:30 am EST Virginia Governor Polls have shown Democrat Terry McAuliffe leading Republican Ken Cuccinelli, the state's attorney general, in the governor's race. Libertarian Robert Sarvis could help future candidates from his party get on the ballot if he gets at least 10 percent. Compare results in the governor's race to 2012 presidential results in each city and county Virginia has become a battleground state in recent presidential elections. President Barack Obama won the state last year, with 51 percent to Mitt Romney's 47.3 percent. Terry McAuliffe 1,061,928 47.9% Ken Cuccinelli 1,006,996 45.5% Robert Sarvis 146,012 6.6% 99% reporting ADJUSTED RETURNS HuffPost's best guess at the outcome of tonight's election, calculated by combining the results reported so far with past voting patterns, is McAuliffe 47.9% and Cuccinelli 45.5%. Virginia Lieutenant Governor State Sen. Ralph Northam and E.W. Jackson, a minister and lawyer, are running for Virginia's second-highest office. The winner will break ties in the state Senate, which is evenly divided on party lines. Ralph Northam 1,211,587 55.5% E. W. Jackson 971,265 44.5% 99% reporting  Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring and Mark Obenshain, both state senators, are competing in what is expected to be the closest of Virginia's three statewide races. Mark Obenshain 1,095,565 50.0% Mark Herring 1,094,787 50.0% 99% reporting

http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/2013/results?pw