Northern Virginia's Election Night

Election night, November 6, I was sent to cover the Fairfax County Republican party. Ever since I asked Senator George Allen about his Jewish background, some Republicans have been a bit frosty to me. But, aside from the woman who rebuffed my request for an interview, "I don't talk to the press!!" the other folks there were very courteous and helpful. Although, there was little to be pleasant about.

It felt like a funeral. The only Fairfax County Republican State Senator to keep his seat, Ken Cuccinelli didn't even show. He had his own party with Delegate Tim Hugo who also hung on to his seat. When Senator Jeannemarie Devolites Davis showed up, the look on her face gave it away: she was about to lose her seat. You can bet her husband, Rep. Tom Davis, a master at political strategy, had the numbers figured out weeks before.
I saw Sen. Davis a few hours earlier at Lake Braddock High School and was struck by how she seemed to look like she already lost.

Sen. Davis took the stage along with Gary Baise, before all the votes were in. They both gave gracious speeches thanking all their supporters and telling us they had conceded to their opponents. The reason for their defeat? "The Democratic Tide", Davis said confidently. I asked her if she had any regrets in her campaign, a race that was often bitter with accusations from and against her challenger, Democrat Chap Petersen. "No," she said.

Now that the republicans have lost the State Senate to the Democrats, and have lost ground in the House of Delegates as well as in Congress and the U.S. Senate, it's back to the drawing board. With Northern Virginia such a potent voting block, if Republicans want to hang on to the seat being vacated by U.S. Senator John Warner, they may need to come up with a new strategy.