It’s the first Tuesday in November, and that means it’s Election Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The polls opened at 6 AM and will remain open until 7 PM tonight.
All 100 House of Delegates Seats and 40 Senate seats are up for grabs, as well as countless local offices, from Board of Supervisors to School Board (in some areas), Constitutional Officers like Clerks of Court, Sheriffs and Commonwealth’s Attorneys, and Soil and Water Conservation Boards as well.
Let us know what you’re seeing on the comments.
For a list of races we’re watching, check J.R.’s thread on the State Senate here.
Update 1:30 pm (J.R.):
Gecker-Sturtevant spike: More than 500 people had voted at my South Richmond precinct by 11 a.m. Four years ago, 800 people voted all day.
— Andrew Cain (@AndrewCainRTD) November 3, 2015
To analyze the above depends a little on the precinct. That said, higher turnout certainly shows enthusiasm. And, most folks talking to me have been enthusiastic towards conservatism. Then again, that could just be the echo chamber echoing. Update 1 pm (J.R.):
Wagner intern Francesca Lanuza said she’s been able to get him votes today. No McCollum folks here at Little Creek. pic.twitter.com/ge0H7qPbnB — Patrick Wilson (@patrickmwilson) November 3, 2015
Sure, LC is Dem-leaning. But isn’t this a tad presumptuous of the McCollum campaign? Or is it indicative that they’re weak on staff?
Update 12:45 pm (J.R.): Nancy Dye’s campaign is cautiously optimistic in their chances. There are contested local races in Roanoke, Montgomery County (the sheriff’s race between two Republicans), and Giles County. Particularly in Giles County, a region that favors Republicans, turnout is expected, per contributor Matt Hall, to be high. Check out the Roanoke Times’ initial report on voting trends favoring the GOP.
Update 12:15 pm (J.R.)…some photos from around the commonwealth:
UPDATE 2.55pm (KENNEY): From a friendly informant on the ground in Prince William:
Gov, LG and AG are all in PWC right now stumping for McPike…
Panic at the disco, folks.
UPDATE 5:00pm (SCHOENEMAN): Reports from around Fairfax continue to indicate stronger than expected numbers in Republican areas.
UPDATE 6:00pm (THE MRS. KENNEY) 15-20% turnout here in Fluvanna (5th district/Central Virginia).
I’m also taking over this live-blog-open-thread-thingy for the next couple hours, so let’s have some fun.
UPDATE 6:38pm While we wait for Election Day to be over, here are some cool pictures from around the Commonwealth today.
Pete Snyder working the polls
Delegate Chris Peace
Eve Marie Barner Gleason at her polling station
Get them voting early!
UPDATE 6:45pm Jim Hoeft announces that in just a few hours, he will no longer be a Young Republican. He turns 41 tomorrow. Happy birthday, J.R.
UPDATE 7:00pm …aaaand the polls are closed. We’ll be following the Department of Elections and VPAP, plus posting any intel we receive.
UPDATE 7:03: T-Mac Spinning Senate Loss 
UPDATE: 7:20pm Results starting to trickle in on DoE and VPAP.
UPDATE 7:25 As folks are constantly refreshing to see results tonight, keep in mind that this year’s ballot is the most complex across the entire Commonwealth. In some places they are tabulating 14 or more separate results.
UPDATE 7:35 — Let’s see… HoD21, Ron Villanueva (59.54%) over Susan B. Hippen (40.46%) with 30% precincts reporting. HoD 27, Roxann L. Robinson (58.36%) over Martin Mooradian Jr. (41.64%) with 95% precincts reporting.
UPDATE 7:41 — Sen 10, Glen H. Sturtevant Jr. (52.99%) over Daniel A. Gecker (43.75%) with 36% precincts reporting.
UPDATE 7:45pm — Sen 11, Amanda F. Chase (64.07%) over “Wayne” Powell (35.93%) with 75% of precincts reporting.
UPDATE 7:52pm — Sen 08, Bill De Steph (59.49%) over Dave Belote (40.51%) with 62% precincts reporting.
UPDATE 7:55pm — HoD 68, Manoli Loupassi (60.30%) over Bill Grogan (37.23%) with 59% precincts reporting.
UPDATE 8:10 — Norm wonders if we’re looking at 20-20 in the Senate.
UPDATE 8:20 Sen 10, Gecker now leading (52.37%) over Sturtevant (44.30%) with 72% reporting
UPDATE 8:23 @vpapupdates November 3, 8:11 p.m.
In SD 10, Gecker up by nearly 1,000 votes — but no Powhatan results at all. Also out: 1 Chesterfield; 13 Richmond
UPDATE: 8:28pm — Sen 07, Frank Wagner (54.50%) over Gary McCollum (45.49%) with 81% of precincts reporting.
UPDATE 8:42 Breaking: In Powhattan — numbers from the phone — @gecker got 2,205 @GlenSturtevant 7,315. That’s all 13 presints #va10
UPDATE 8:47 — Sen 29, Hal Parrish (52.32%) now leading McPike (47.42%) , but still many precincts unreported
UPDATE 8:50p @vpapupdates November 3, 8:47 p.m.
Reached a milestone: Half of 2,700 precincts in state have now reported.
UPDATE: 8:54pm Sen 10…still waiting on the update. The RTD tweet numbers (see update at 8:42) would put Sturtevant in the lead if those numbers hold, but VPAP and DoE still haven’t updated in 20 minutes.
UPDATE: 9:10pm Gecker (52.45%) with 23,797 over Sturtevant (44.71%) with 20,285, 53 of 67 precincts reported.
UPDATE: 9:14pm, Hal Parrish leading by 75 votes right now. Parrish (50.17%) with 6837 votes over McPike (49.54%) with 6752 votes. 40% of precincts in…still more than half uncounted.
UPDATE: 9:19 Parrish up by just 13 votes now, with 48% precincts in.
UPDATE 9:22, Gecker up by 3,500 votes, with 80% precincts in.
UPDATE: 9:23 NBC12 calls race for STURTEVANT after he picks up 5,100 votes in Powhatan http://www.nbc12.com/story/30429087/sturtevant-beats-gecker-to-take-seat-left-vacant-by-sen-watkins
UPDATE 9:33pm McPike leading (51.68%) with 8,921 votes over Parrish (48.02%) with 8,289 votes, 57% precincts reporting
UPDATE: 10pm — the AP has called the race for McPike. THE MRS. KENNEY is tired and signing off. Please continue to comment in the section marked “comments” 🙂
