Republican concedes in disputed Virginia AG race
(CNN) - Republican state Sen. Mark Obenshain conceded to Democrat Mark Herring on Wednesday in the disputed race for Virginia Attorney General.
Obenshain made the decision with a recount set to conclude.
It marked the first time since 1989 that Democrats have officially swept the top three statewide offices in Virginia.
"The recount is almost over and in this contest for Attorney General that, frankly, I was starting to think was never going to end. It's become apparent that our campaign is going to come up a few votes short," he said at a news conference.
Democrats now control the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.
Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe won the gubernatorial race and Democrat Ralph Northam was elected Lieutenant Governor.
Obenshain and Herring, also a state Senator, were in a virtual dead heat on Election Day.
Obenshain later requested a recount - as allowed under Virginia law - with results showing him trailing Herring by about .007%, the closest margin in a statewide race in the Old Dominion's history.
The recount began on Monday and was set to conclude at the end of the week.
Herring's win will prompt a special election in the state Senate, which is currently split evenly, 20-20, between Republicans and Democrats.
McAuliffe congratulated Herring on his victory. He also praised Obenshain's "graceful concession."
"I would also like to congratulate Senator Mark Obenshain on a hard fought campaign and for the professional manner in which he has approached the recount process."
CNN's Ashley Killough and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
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Smitty, you were saying about VA turning red?
Yes Virginia there is Sanity.
Gee, this will require many of the same republicans to post under different names or maybe, they'll just admit how naïve they really are.
Awwww, poor teaklans. Lost another state.
"It's become apparent that our campaign is going to come up a few votes short."
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Of course, you're gonig to come up a few votes short, despite the fact that the election was supervised by Republicans. It's my understanding that all balloting was tallied electronically. The original count was the correct count.
Does this mean that the state will not be purging more people from the right to vote.
Dodged a bullet there VA. This is a guy who wanted to put women in jail for a year if they had a miscarriage and a doctor wasn't present and they failed to notify the POLICE within 24 hours. He's a religio-fascist nutjob not fit to run a local dump, let alone run the AG's office.
Wake up Dem/liberal voters: THE DOWNBALLOT VOTES MATTER.
"Does this mean that the state will not be purging more people from the right to vote."
Yeppers. We can start undoing the damage McDonnell and Cooch oversaw. Hopefully McAuliffe's first act is to force through the Medicaid expansion.
You know the Dems brought in thousands of aliens from Alpha Centauri to scuttle this vote. Damn Aliens! BENGHAZZZZZZI!
Thank God the people of VA did the right thing and voted for the Democrat!
-don in albuquerque
You know the Dems brought in thousands of aliens from Alpha Centauri to scuttle this vote. Damn Aliens! BENGHAZZZZZZI!
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I thought they were Vulcans..........FAST AND FURIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This piece of elections news is significant- 3 former GOP positions turn Democtratic- in a border state no less. Well done Virginia!
I told you that GOP is gone to dogs for fifty years or so. No sane votes for these GOP garbage.
VIRGINIA:
Obama/Biden(D)
McAuliffe(D)
Northman(D)
Herring(D)
We're coming for Cantor & Riggell's seats next! Virginia is completely BLUE!
What, no snarky comments from the Right? Will wonders never cease?
"You know the Dems brought in thousands of aliens from Alpha Centauri to scuttle this vote. Damn Aliens! BENGHAZZZZZZI!
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I thought they were Vulcans..........FAST AND FURIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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No way man, Tralfamadorians....LONG FORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oohhhhh noooooo, no more uterus policing for Virginia.
yes ChrisM....uterus are free