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Herring: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Obenshain: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 50% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Virginia |
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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.
- ^ Schmidt, Markus; Nolan, Jim (May 18, 2013). "Virginia GOP convention: Obenshain nominee for AG". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
- ^ Schmidt, Markus (June 12, 2013). "Northam, Herring complete Democratic ticket". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ^ "Virginia Attorney General race: Candidates appoint transition teams in too close to call election". wjla.com. November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ Brett logiurato (November 13, 2013). "The Most Exciting Election In America Is Coming Down To The Wire". Business Insider. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
- ^ "Virginia Board of Elections - Election Night Results". November 7, 2013. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ Vozzella, Laura (November 25, 2013). "Herring wins Virginia attorney general race, elections board announces". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
- ^ Rogers, Alex (November 13, 2013). "With 164 Vote Attorney General Victory, Virginia Democrats Sweep State". Time Magazine. Swampland. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ^ "Obenshain to request recount in attorney general race". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 26, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ^ "Virginia AG race recount slated for week of Dec. 16 as campaigns spar in court over rules". The Washington Post. December 4, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
- ^ Ress, Dave (December 19, 2013). "It's official: Recount results show 907 vote margin for Herring". Daily Press. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2014.