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State Board of Elections results here.
Update: 8:30pm eastern, Moran concedes, congratulates Deeds – on Facebook
Update: With 73% of precincts in, Deeds is ahead with 50%.
McAuliffe 26%, Moran 24%.
Further analysis available from teacherken.
Very light turnout in today’s three-way Virginia Democratic primary for governor boded ill for Brian Moran’s hopes of gaining higher office.
Rainy weather and a lack of zeal for the available choices kept many Virginia Democrats home today. Areas that might have done well for Moran, in the inner suburbs of Washington DC, were nearly empty, per the NYT:
Polling stations in McLean, Arlington and Alexandria looked more like ghost towns as poll workers outnumbered voters three to one during what was supposed to be the before-work rush around 8 a.m.
“Democracy doesn’t like the rain,” joked one poll worker in Arlington who would not give her name.
While there may be yet be surprises in the 10,000 absentee ballots cast, State Senator R. Creigh Deeds had a growing lead over Moran and former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe in the polls going into the weekend. There could be surprises if a large number of Republicans or independents decided to participate in the open primary.
Polls closed at 7pm. We eagerly await further results.
22 Comments
Waiting for more results, but looking solid for Deeds.
It’s raining like crazy here in DC. Dogs are terrified & we’re in the basement.
I can well imagine turnout is low. But I still don’t know how Deeds took this one. One day he was a goof, the next day the WaPo endorsed Deeds, then Terry McAuliffe & Brian Moran ripped into each other, and now…Deeds v. McDonnell?
Who do we want to win this race and why? Sorry I’m not up on VA politics.
The Jim Webb/Harris Miller primary in 2006 saw a Democratic primary turnout of 3.45% of eligible voters. Virginia Democrats are still used to things being done in the backroom; as a long-ago convention manager for a US Senate hopeful in Virginia, I can tell you that this newfangled primarying strikes many old-time Democrats as entirely too, um, democratic.
I will support the eventual nominee, of course — Virginia doesn’t deserve a Regent Law School graduate at governor.
I heard from folks who were either undecided or lukewarm about candidates that they chose Deeds during the last few days.
McAuliffe is viewed as an outsider, which since time immemorial has not sat well with Virginians; and Moran was unable to boost his small circle of fervent supporters into a statewide movement.
Is Deeds better than McAuliffe?
Deeds up by 25 points with 40% of precincts reporting. As leads go, that’s a pretty damn good one.
Half of the regular votes are in, Deeds maintaining the lead by huge margins. Even if he receives none of the 10,000 absentee ballots, I think he’s got it.
I’m updating up top, refresh for the latest. Or keep the BoE site open like us junkies.
I want to be very careful how I speak about my fellow Virginia Democrats, as I am still active in the party there. They each have their strengths and weaknesses.
Sixty percent in, Deeds still holding on at 50%.
McAuliffe 26, Moran 24.
VIRGINIA GOVERNOR RESULTS: 43% reporting (WaPo)
Candidate Votes %
R. Creigh Deeds 63,782 52%
Terry R. McAuliffe 30,730 25%
Brian J. Moran 29,062 24%
Will we see concessions at the top of this hour?
VIRGINIA GOVERNOR RESULTS: 53% reporting
Candidate Votes %
R. Creigh Deeds 75,695 51%
Terry R. McAuliffe 37,682 26%
Brian J. Moran 33,812 23%
With 67% in, the percentages are still holding:
Deeds 50%
McAuliffe 26%
Moran 24%
Wow, this is a stunning victory for Creigh Deeds if these percentages hold.
Per DKos, AP has called it for Deeds
77% in, still same percentages by candidate.
teacherken explains his endorsement for Deeds:
Strangely quiet on other sites. I guess people had their favorites who didn’t do well.
8:30pm eastern – Brian Moran concedes, congratulates Deeds – on Facebook. The modern election.
I live in NoVa and voted for Deeds and Signer. A Moran supporter knocked on my door last week and I told him I was basically “anybody but McAuliffe” but leaning Deeds because even though I may not agree with every position, what you see is what you get. I am tired of supporting “progressive” candidates who get into office and suddenly turn neanderthal.