2013 Virginia Attorney General election explained

See also: 2013 Virginia elections.

Election Name:2013 Virginia Attorney General election
Country:Virginia
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2009 Virginia Attorney General election
Previous Year:2009
Next Election:2017 Virginia Attorney General election
Next Year:2017
Image1:File:Mark_Herring_at_McAuliffe_rally.jpg
Nominee1:Mark Herring
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,105,045
Percentage1:49.91%
Nominee2:Mark Obenshain
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,104,138
Percentage2:49.87%
Attorney General
Before Election:Ken Cuccinelli
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Mark Herring
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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.

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

See main article: 2013 Republican Party of Virginia convention.

Candidates

Nominated at convention

Defeated at convention

Withdrew

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
class=small Sample
size
Margin of
error
Justin
Fairfax
Mark
Herring
OtherUndecided
Public Policy PollingMay 24–26, 2013322± 5.5%19% align=center22% align=center59%

Results

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
class=small Sample
size
Margin of
error
Mark
Obenshain (R)
Mark
Herring (D)
OtherUndecided
Public Policy PollingNovember 2–3, 2013870± 3.3%45% align=center47%8%
Christopher Newport UniversityOctober 25–30, 20131,038± 3% align=center45%43%12%
Public Policy PollingOctober 26–27, 2013709 EV± 3.6%42% align=center54%3%
Hampton UniversityOctober 24, 26–27, 2013800± 2.9% align=center45%39%16%
Washington Post/Abt SRBIOctober 24–27, 2013762± 4.5%46% align=center49%4%
Roanoke CollegeOctober 21–27, 2013838± 3.4%35% align=center46%20%
Christopher Newport UniversityOctober 8–13, 2013753± 3.6% align=center46%45%9%
Watson CenterOctober 1–6, 2013886± 3.1%42% align=center45%14%
Roanoke CollegeSeptember 30–October 5, 20131,046± 3% align=center38%35%26%
Hampton UniversitySeptember 25–29, 2013800± 2.9% align=center41%37%23%
University of Mary WashingtonSeptember 25–29, 2013559± 4.7% align=center42%36%6%16%
Washington Post/Abt SRBISeptember 19–22, 2013562± 5%42% align=center45%14%
Conquest CommunicationsSeptember 19, 2013400±5% align=center35.8%24.5% align=center39.8%
NBC/MaristSeptember 17–19, 2013546± 3%34% align=center39%26%
Roanoke CollegeSeptember 9–15, 2013874± 3.3%31% align=center33% align=center34%
Public Policy PollingJuly 11–14, 2013601± 4%36% align=center38%25%
Roanoke CollegeJuly 8–14, 2013525± 4.3% align=center33%29% align=center38%
Public Policy PollingMay 24–26, 2013672± 3.8%32% align=center33% align=center34%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
class=small Sample
size
Margin of
error
Mark
Obenshain (R)
Justin
Fairfax (D)
OtherUndecided
Public Policy PollingMay 24–26, 2013672± 3.8% align=center32%30%38%

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."[18] 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.[19]

By congressional district

Despite losing the state, Obenshain won 7 of 11 congressional districts, while Herring won 4, including one held by a Republican.[20]

DistrictObenshainHerringRepresentative
56%44%Rob Wittman
52%48%Scott Rigell
23%77%Robert C. Scott
53%47%Randy Forbes
57%43%
64%36%Bob Goodlatte
58%42%Eric Cantor
29%71%Jim Moran
67%33%Morgan Griffith
49.999%50.001%Frank Wolf
37%63%Gerry Connolly

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Schmidt, Markus . Nolan, Jim . Virginia GOP convention: Obenshain nominee for AG . Richmond Times-Dispatch . May 18, 2013 . May 18, 2013.
  2. News: Northam, Herring complete Democratic ticket . Richmond Times-Dispatch . June 12, 2013 . June 12, 2013 . Markus . Schmidt.
  3. News: Virginia Attorney General race: Candidates appoint transition teams in too close to call election . wjla.com . November 14, 2013 . November 14, 2013.
  4. News: Brett logiurato . The Most Exciting Election In America Is Coming Down To The Wire . Business Insider . November 13, 2013 . November 13, 2013.
  5. Web site: Virginia Board of Elections - Election Night Results . November 7, 2013 . November 7, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131109055112/http://electionresults.virginia.gov/resultsCTY.aspx?type=SWR&rid=169&osn=6&map=CTY . November 9, 2013 . dead . mdy-all .
  6. News: Herring wins Virginia attorney general race, elections board announces . The Washington Post . November 25, 2013 . November 25, 2013 . Laura . Vozzella.
  7. News: With 164 Vote Attorney General Victory, Virginia Democrats Sweep State . Time Magazine. Swampland . November 13, 2013 . November 12, 2013 . Alex . Rogers.
  8. News: Obenshain to request recount in attorney general race . Richmond Times-Dispatch . November 26, 2013 . November 27, 2013.
  9. News: Virginia AG race recount slated for week of Dec. 16 as campaigns spar in court over rules . . December 4, 2013 . December 5, 2013.
  10. News: It's official: Recount results show 907 vote margin for Herring. December 19, 2013. January 2, 2014. Daily Press. Dave. Ress. https://web.archive.org/web/20140103110535/http://www.dailypress.com/news/politics/shad-plank-blog/dp-virgiina-politics-its-official-herring-wins-with-907-vote-margin-20131219,0,789429.post. January 3, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
  11. Web site: Obenshain announces interest in attorney general seat. December 3, 2011. October 21, 2012. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Jim. Nolan.
  12. Web site: Republican John Frey withdrawing from Virginia’s attorney general race. November 27, 2012. November 28, 2012. The Washington Post.
  13. Web site: 3rd Dem enters 2013 A.G. race. September 14, 2012. October 21, 2012. The Daily Press. Todd Allen. Wilson.
  14. News: Sen. Mark Herring to run for attorney general in 2013 . Anita . Kumar . . July 24, 2012 . July 24, 2012.
  15. News: Signer (D) declines AG bid, endorses Herring. Julian . Walker . The Virginian-Pilot. November 15, 2012 . November 28, 2012.
  16. Web site: Former Del. Ward Armstrong won't run statewide in 2013. December 3, 2012. December 23, 2012. The Roanoke Times. Michael. Sluss.
  17. Web site: Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » RATINGS CHANGE: A DEMOCRATIC TIDE IN VIRGINIA. centerforpolitics.org.
  18. Web site: Commonwealth of Virginia State Board of Elections. Virginia Election Recounts and Contests -- The Basics . November 15, 2013 . November 7, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021131/http://sbe.virginia.gov/Files/ElectionAdministration/ElectionLaw/Virginia_Election_Recounts_Contests.pdf . December 3, 2013 . dead . mdy-all .
  19. News: Herring, Obenshain may face recount in Va. AG’s race; December outcome likely. The Washington Post. November 6, 2013. November 8, 2013.
  20. Web site: Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts. Daily Kos. 13 July 2024.