2009 Virginia elections

The following offices were up for election in the United States Commonwealth of Virginia in the November 2009 general election:

• Three statewide offices – Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General – for four-year terms
• Virginia House of Delegates, the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly (100 seats), for two-year terms
• Four local constitutional officers each in the larger independent cities – Sheriff, Commonwealth's Attorney, Treasurer, Commissioner of the Revenue – for four-year terms

These elections will determine how the General Assembly will redraw district boundaries for seats in the United States House of Representatives, the Senate of Virginia, and the House of Delegates, based on results of the 2010 United States Census in 2011.

Schedule of election-related events

The Virginia State Board of Elections set the following calendar of events for the November 2009 election: ^[1]

• March 11 – Deadline for political party officials to request primary elections from the State Board of Elections
• April 10 – Filing deadline for primary election candidates
• May 11 – Voter registration deadline for primary election
• June 2 – Application deadline for primary election mail-in absentee ballot
• June 6 – Application deadline for primary election in-person absentee ballot
• June 9 – Primary elections; deadline for parties to select candidates by non-primary methods; filing deadline for independent candidates
• October 5 – Voter registration deadline for general election
• October 27 – Application deadline for general election mail-in absentee ballot
• October 31 – Application deadline for general election in-person absentee ballot
• November 3 – General election

In addition, candidates must file campaign finance reports with the state or local election boards at certain specified intervals during the campaign year. ^[2] The three incumbent statewide officeholders and members of the General Assembly are barred by law from fundraising during the annual session of the General Assembly, from mid-January through roughly the end of February. ^[3]

Sufficiently large political parties (in practice, the Democratic and Republican parties) have the option of nominating candidates in primary elections. Nominees not chosen in primaries are selected in a caucus or convention process. Incumbent members of Congress and the General Assembly have the option of choosing their party's nominating method for their office; otherwise, the decision is made by a committee of party officials from the jurisdiction involved. Persons 18 years old or older on the general election date (born on or before November 3, 1991) may register and vote in both the primary and general elections. Voters in Virginia do not register by party; they have the option of voting in any one party's primary, and may switch at will from one election to the next.

Governor

Main article: 2009 Virginia gubernatorial election

• 
  Creigh Deeds (D)
• 
  Bob McDonnell (R)

Party nominees:

• The Republican Party formally nominated former Attorney General Bob McDonnell of Virginia Beach, who was unopposed for the nomination, at the May 29–30 state party convention. McDonnell resigned as Virginia's Attorney General on February 3, 2009, to concentrate on the gubernatorial campaign. ^{[4] [5]}
• The Democratic Party nominated Creigh Deeds , Democrat from Bath County – senator since 2002 following 10 years in the House; unsuccessful Democratic nominee for attorney general in 2005, after he captured the nomination in the Democratic Primary on June 9, 2009 ^[6]

Former candidates for the Democratic Party nomination:

• Terry McAuliffe, Democrat from Fairfax County – political consultant, former Democratic National Committee chair, recently Presidential campaign manager for Hillary Clinton; created a campaign committee on November 11, 2008 ^[7]
• Brian Moran, Democrat from Alexandria – 7 term House member and House Democratic caucus chair; younger brother of U.S. Representative Jim Moran. Resigned from House of Delegates December 12, 2008 to concentrate on campaign ^[8]

Lieutenant governor

Main article: 2009 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election

• 
  Bill Bolling (R)
• 
  Jody Wagner (D)

Party nominees:

• Former state Secretary of Finance Jody Wagner , who resigned her position on August 8, 2008, to run, ^[9] won the June 9 primary to be the Democratic Party nominee. Previously she was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate in Virginia's 2nd congressional district in 2000.
• The Republican Party nominated incumbent Lt. Governor and former State Senator Bill Bolling of Hanover County ^[10] at the party's May 29–30 convention. ^[5]

Former candidates:

• Jon Bowerbank, a Democratic energy industry engineer/entrepreneur, won election to the Russell County Board of Supervisors in November 2007 and began campaigning for lieutenant governor in May 2008. After getting his name on the primary ballot, Bowerbank withdrew on May 15, 2009, endorsing Wagner. ^[11]
• Pat Edmonson, a Virginia Beach School Board member, announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination on January 12, 2009, saying voters were "ready for a progressive voice" ^[12] She failed to file the proper candidate paperwork with the state by the April 10, 2009 deadline, making her ineligible for the primary, ^[13]
• Patrick C. Muldoon of Giles County, an unsuccessful Republican nominee in Virginia's 9th congressional district in 1996, filed on November 11, 2008, ^{[14] [15]} but lost the convention vote to Bolling. ^[5]
• Rich Savage, a Democratic professional campaign consultant from Richmond, announced his candidacy on January 2, 2009 ^[16] but suspended his campaign on March 6, citing financial pressures caused by the worsening economy. ^[17]
• Mike Signer of Arlington, a former deputy counselor to Mark Warner on Homeland Security and National Guard policy and senior strategist for Tom Perriello, ^[18] lost the June 9 Democratic primary to Wagner.

Election results

Democratic primary

Official results :

2009 Virginia Lieutenant Governor Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jody Wagner	213,059	74.29
	Democratic	Mike Signer	60,979	21.26
	Democratic	Jon Bowerbank	12,739	4.44
Majority			152,080
Turnout			286,777	5.65

General election

2009 Virginia Lieutenant Governor general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bill Bolling (incumbent)	1,106,674	56.51	+6.04
	Democratic	Jody Wagner	850,070	43.40	−5.92
		write-ins	1,580	0.08	−0.13
Majority			256,604
Turnout			1,958,324	39.51
	Republican hold		Swing

[19]

Polling

Democratic primary

Source	Date	Jody Wagner	Pat Edmonson	Michael Signer	Rich Savage	Jon Bowerbank	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [20]	June 6–7, 2009	41%	n/a	12%	n/a	6%	42%
Suffolk University [21]	June 4, 2009	30%	n/a	7%	n/a	n/a	62%
Public Policy Polling [22]	May 28–31, 2009	27%	n/a	11%	n/a	n/a	63%
Public Policy Polling [23]	May 19–21, 2009	21%	n/a	11%	n/a	n/a	68%
Public Policy Polling [24]	May 1–3, 2009	18%	n/a	7%	n/a	6%	69%
Public Policy Polling [25]	March 27–29, 2009	21%	4%	4%	n/a	4%	67%
Public Policy Polling [26]	February 28–March 1, 2009	9%	6%	5%	4%	3%	73%

General election

Source	Dates Administered	Jody Wagner (D)	Bill Bolling (R)
Public Policy Polling [27]	November 1, 2009	41%	54%
Survey USA [28]	October 26, 2009	42%	56%
Public Policy Polling [29]	October 19, 2009	39%	49%
Survey USA [30]	October 19, 2009	42%	56%
The Washington Post [31]	October 7, 2009	40%	49%
Survey USA [32]	October 4, 2009	40%	57%
Survey USA [33]	Sept 26–29, 2009	41%	54%
Public Policy Polling [34]	Sept 25–28, 2009	35%	43%
Clarus Research Group [35]	Sept 10–14, 2009	32%	38%
Survey USA [36]	September 3, 2009	42%	52%
Public Policy Polling [37]	Aug 28–31, 2009	40%	46%
Public Policy Polling [38]	July 31-Aug 3, 2009	34%	48%
Survey USA [39]	July 27-July 28, 2009	42%	54%
Public Policy Polling [40]	June 30-July 2, 2009	40%	46%

Attorney general

Main article: 2009 Virginia Attorney General election

• 
  Ken Cuccinelli (R)
• 
  Steve Shannon (D)

Party nominees:

• The Democratic Party nominee is State Delegate and former assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Shannon of Fairfax County. Shannon announced his candidacy in the fall of 2008, ^[41] and as the only candidate who filed for the Democratic primary, became the Democratic nominee by default.
• The Republican Party nominee is State Senator Ken Cuccinelli of Fairfax County; Cuccinelli announced April 1, 2008, ^[42] and won the nomination at the May 29–30 Republican convention. ^[5]
• Both candidates, Cuccinelli (Class of 1986) and Shannon (Class of 1989), attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C.

Former candidates:

• John L. Brownlee of Roanoke is a former United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia who resigned on May 16, 2008, to run for the Republican Party nomination, ^[43] but lost the convention vote to Cuccinelli. ^[5]
• John Fishwick, an attorney from Roanoke and unsuccessful 1992 Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives, set up a committee to run for the Democratic nomination in October 2008 ^[44] but withdrew on January 5, 2009. ^[45]
• David M. Foster of Arlington, an antitrust lawyer with Fulbright & Jaworski in Washington, D.C. and former Arlington County school board chair ^[46] ran for the Republican nomination but lost the convention vote to Cuccinelli. ^[5]

General election results

2009 Virginia Attorney General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Ken Cuccinelli	1,124,018	57.51	+7.55
	Democratic	Steve Shannon	828,647	42.39	−7.56
		write-ins	1,772	0.09	+0
Majority			295,371
Turnout			1,954,437	39.43
	Republican hold		Swing

^[47]

Polling

General election

Source	Dates Administered	Steve Shannon (D)	Ken Cuccinelli (R)
Public Policy Polling [27]	November 1, 2009	39%	55%
Survey USA [28]	October 26, 2009	41%	57%
Public Policy Polling [29]	October 19, 2009	37%	52%
Survey USA [30]	October 19, 2009	41%	56%
The Washington Post [31]	October 7, 2009	40%	49%
Survey USA [32]	October 4, 2009	43%	53%
Survey USA [33]	Sept 26–29, 2009	42%	53%
Public Policy Polling [34]	Sept 25–28, 2009	34%	43%
Clarus Research Group [35]	Sept 10–14, 2009	30%	35%
Survey USA [36]	September 3, 2009	41%	54%
Public Policy Polling [37]	Aug 28–31, 2009	35%	48%
Public Policy Polling [38]	July 31-Aug 3, 2009	32%	45%
Survey USA [39]	July 27-July 28, 2009	42%	53%
Public Policy Polling [40]	June 30-July 2, 2009	38%	45%

House of Delegates

Main article: 2009 Virginia House of Delegates election

The 2009 Elections to the Virginia House of Delegates were held on November 3, 2009. Prior to the election, Republicans held 53 seats, Democrats held 43 seats, and Independents held 2 seats (both of whom caucus with the Republicans).

There were 2 seats previously held by Democrats that were vacant on election day: the 69th (Frank Hall resigned April 14, 2009) and the 80th (Ken Melvin resigned May 1, 2009). Eight incumbent Democrats were defeated, one incumbent Republican was defeated, and one open Republican seat was won by a Democrat. The composition of the House of Delegates in 2010 was 59 Republicans, 2 Independents who caucus with the Republicans, and 39 Democrats.

Notes

1. Virginia State Board of Elections; 2009 Election Calendar
2. "Code of Virginia § 24.2-947.6. Filing schedule for candidates for office; November elections" . Retrieved August 16, 2008.
3. "Code of Virginia § 24.2-954. Campaign fundraising; legislative session; penalties". Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2008.
4. Walker, Julian (February 3, 2009). "Attorney General McDonnell resigning to run for governor". The Virginian-Pilot. Archived from the original on February 6, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
5. "McDonnell accepts GOP nomination for Va. governor". Archived from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2009.
6. Kumar, Anita (June 11, 2009). "Va. Gubernatorial Candidates Off to Fast Start". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
7. Schapiro, Jeff (November 11, 2008). "McAuliffe announces statewide tour; Ex-DNC chairman forms committee to explore run for Va. governor in 2009". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved November 14, 2008.^{[ dead link ]}
8. Craig, Tim (December 13, 2008). "Moran Resigns From Va. Assembly; Delegate Post Left For Governor Bid". The Washington Post. p. B1. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
9. Walker, Julian (August 16, 2008). "Jody Wagner announces bid for lieutenant governor in 2009". The Virginian-Pilot. p. 3, Hampton Roads section. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
10. Lewis, Bob (March 24, 2008). "Va.'s Lt. Gov. to Seek Re-Election". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
11. "Bowerbank quits Democratic contest for lieutenant governor, backs Jody Wagner". Richmond Times-Dispatch. May 15, 2009. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
12. "Board Member to Run for Lt. Gov". Virginian-Pilot. January 13, 2009. p. 2, Hampton Roads section.
13. Whitely, Tyler (April 10, 2009). "Edmonson won't be a candidate for lieutenant governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
14. Whitley, Tyler (November 11, 2008). "Muldoon seeks to be lieutenant governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved November 14, 2008.^{[ dead link ]}
15. "Commonwealth of Virginia; Election Results; November 5, 1996 General Election; Congressional District 009". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2008.
16. Schapiro, Jeff E. (January 2, 2009). "Third Va. Democrat declares for lieutenant governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
17. Schapiro, Jeff E. (March 6, 2009). "One of five Democrats running for lieutenant governor drops bid". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2009.
18. "Virginia Is for Consultant Candidates". Roll Call. Roll Call Inc. February 12, 2009. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
19. "Virginia State Board of Elections : November General Election". Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
20. "Deeds opens up lead" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. June 7, 2009.
21. "Virginia Primary Statewide" (PDF). Suffolk University. June 4, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 11, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
22. "Anyone's Game in VIrginia" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. June 2, 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 12, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
23. "Deeds Pulls Closer; McAuliffe Still Leads" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. May 22, 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 29, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
24. "McAuliffe takes lead in primary contest" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. May 5, 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 21, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
25. "Virginia primary race remains up for grabs" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. March 29, 2009.
26. "Tight field in Virginia primary" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. March 1, 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
27. Public Policy Polling
28. "Survey USA". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
29. Public Policy Polling
30. "Survey USA". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
31. "The Washington Post". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on January 25, 2011. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
32. "Survey USA". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
33. "Survey USA". Archived from the original on October 3, 2009. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
34. Public Policy Polling
35. Clarus Research Group
36. Survey USA
37. Public Policy Polling
38. "Public Policy Polling" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on August 24, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
39. "Survey USA". Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
40. "Public Policy Polling" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on July 10, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
41. "Steve Shannon, Attorney General". Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
42. Gardner, Amy (April 1, 2008). "N.Va. Conservative to Run for Attorney General". The Washington Post. p. B.1.
43. "Breaking News: John Brownlee Announces Press Conference for May 20, 2008 to Announce Plans to Run for Virginia Attorney General". Virginia Qui Tam Law.com. May 19, 2008. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
44. Sluss, Michael (October 16, 2008). "Fishwick explores political waters; The Roanoke lawyer is considering running for state attorney general in the 2009 election". Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on October 19, 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2008.
45. Sluss, Michael (January 5, 2009). "Roanoke lawyer won't run for attorney general's nomination". Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
46. Kumar, Anita (May 1, 2008). "Arlington's Foster May Run for Attorney General". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
47. "Virginia State Board of Elections : November General Election". Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2009.

References

• Code of Virginia, Title 24.2 – Elections
• Virginia State Board of Elections: 2009 Election Calendar; for all offices elected in November

External links

• Voter resources
  • Virginia Voter Registration Form - Deadline to register is Monday, October 5
  • Voter Registration Information - Find out if you are registered at the Election and Registration Information System
  • Polling Place Search
  • Imagine Election - Find out about the people on your ballot, based on your zip code
  • Virginia Public Access Project - Campaign finance information about candidates, committees, donors, etc.
• Campaign websites
  • Creigh Deeds for Governor - Democratic
  • Bob McDonnell for Governor ^{[ usurped ]} - Republican
  • Bill Bolling for Lieutenant Governor - Republican
  • Jody Wagner for Lieutenant Governor - Democratic
  • Ken Cuccinelli for Attorney General ^{[ usurped ]} - Republican
  • Steve Shannon for Attorney General - Democratic