Community Corner

Election Results: Connolly Takes 11th District

Incumbent Gerry Connolly (D) beats out challenger Chris Perkins (R) and four other candidates.

 Final unofficial results around 1:14 a.m. Wednesday showed U.S. Rep Gerry Connolly easily outpacing Republican challenger Chris Perkins, with 60.06 percent of the vote to Perkins' 26.22 percent across the 11th District.

Connolly won by at least 15 percentage points in all three of the 11th District jurisdictions, defeating Perkins 58.87 to 37.48 percent in Fairfax County; 55.36 to 40.44 percent in Fairfax City; and 65.91 to 30.11 percent in Prince William County, according to the State Board of Elections.

As of 1:14 a.m. Wednesday, all precincts in the 11th District had reported their results.

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Update 10:31 p.m.: In a victory speech for several hundred people gathered in Tysons Corner, Gerry Connolly said voters in Virginia's 11th District "made a clear choice."

"They voted for pragmatism over ideology. They voted for investing in America's future in education, R&D, and in infrastructure, rejecting the mindless cant that government does nothing well and all spending is the same. Our voters understand that investments have returns to them and that even as we get our fiscal house in order, we must prepare for the global competition that is facing us the next generation," Connolly said.

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He spent time talking about the tea party's influence in Virginia, saying "not so fast tea party."

He went on to say "the Constitution doesn't say 'don't tread on me.' It says 'we the people.' It's not just about me. It's about all of us together. That's a Democratic value," Connolly said.

He said the country has a lot of work to do, but he looked forward to working with President Barack Obama and Tim Kaine, saying he was confident they would win their respective seats.

Update 10:25 p.m.: U.S. Rep Gerry Connolly (D) kept his 11th District seat on Tuesday night, defeating Republican opponent Chris Perkins and four other candidates to earn his third consecutive term in Congress.

With 80 of 157 precincts reporting, Connolly led Perkins 58.08 percent to 38.23 percent, according to the State Board of Elections.

In a concession speech at the Mason Inn in Fairfax, Perkins said "I have to concede - the numbers are just not there at this time."

"We fought a good fight. You've fought a good fight. This evening is about freedom. We know this about our country. This battle may be over but in the war we will get this country back," said Perkins, a former U.S. Army Colonel.

Perkins said he called Connolly to congratulate him.

Connolly was first elected in 2008. He served for 14 years before that on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, five of them as chairman.

Connolly is expected to arrive at the Sheraton Premiere in Tysons shortly.

Update 9:33 p.m.: At the Mason Inn, GOP candidate Chris Perkins says it's been a long day: he started at Aldrin Elementary school for four or five hours at 11 a.m, and then moved to Laurel. 

Perkins said Election Day has been "very positive. I knew it [the election] would be tight. The process has been exciting. It's just been a real buzz."

Update 9:25 p.m.: GOP 11th congressional District candidate Chris Perkins is watching election results come in Tuesday night at the Mason Inn in Fairfax.

Supporters are socializing and watching results on large screens, cheering when predictions look like they are in favor of Republican candidates.

Update 9:14 p.m.: With 25 of 157 precincts reporting, Gerry Connolly (D) is leading Chris Perkins (R) 54.56 percent to 42.19 percent.

As of 9:15 p.m., Connolly had 22,015 votes; Perkins had 17,055, according to the State Board of Elections website.

Update: 9:05 p.m.: Fairfax County Democrats are pouring into the Sheraton Premiere in Tysons Corner for the results watch party, sponsored by the Fairfax County Democratic Committee and the 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) is vying for reelection to his seat representing Virginia's 11th Congressional District. Connolly is not expected to arrive at the party until his race is decisively called, said George Burke, a spokesman for the campaign.

"I think Mr. Connolly will have a comfortable margin of victory," Burke said. He does not expect the race to be called until much later Tuesday night. Voters in Dumfries were experiencing extremely long wait times this afternoon - up to four and five hours, Burke said.

Mina Samaan, 25, of Fairfax, who also attended the Democrats' party in Tysons Corner, said he split his ticket between Republicans and Democrats earlier Tuesday. He voted for Romney because he agrees with his economic policies, but voted for Tim Kaine and Gerry Connolly, both Democrats.

"I know Gerry Connolly...He's been a good representative -a very down-to-earth guy," Samaan said. He said he predicts Obama will win the election, but cast his ballot for Romney anyway.

"For me, it was about the economy. I am fiscally conservative myself and I'd like to see that policy implemented at the White House," he said.

Sandy Salamon, 22, works in Rep. Connolly's district office in Annandale. She advocates for residents' issues, she said.

"I think that in the past four years he's done a really good job relaying how much he cares about his constituents," Salamon said.

Dylan Herbert, 15, and his mom Tammi Girgenti, 43, also attended the party and cheered with the rest of the large crowd when a television network called victories for Obama in Maryland and D.C.

"I've been a Democrat all my life," Girgenti said. "I want my son to be involved."

Update 8:25 p.m. In Fairfax County, there are still lines of people waiting to vote. "If you were in line when the polls closed at 7 p.m., you will get to vote," said county spokeswoman Merni Fitzgerald. "At some precincts, including the one here at the government center, there are still sizable lines so some folks won’t actually cast their ballots for awhile.

Update 7:40 p.m.: The State Board of Election has halted reporting results until 8 p.m. because "many voters remain in lines in certain areas of the Commonwealth and will be able to cast votes if in line before the close of polls at 7 p.m."

The decision came to "ensure voters are not unduly influenced by preliminary results. Results will commence shortly thereafter," the board said in a statement.

Update 8:40 a.m.: U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11th) stopped by the Mantua precinct in Fairfax County early Tuesday morning to cast his vote in the 2012 general election.

Original: U.S. Rep Gerry Connolly (D-11th) knows all too well how close a race can be come election night.

In his last run for Virginia's 11th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, the contest between Connolly and challenger KetihFimian (R) was too close to call on Election Day. Voting machines also failed, delaying the certification of ballots from two precincts in the district. The candidates stood less than a half percent apart, which entitled Fimian to a recount, but the Oakton resident conceded a week later.

This year, Connolly faces a slighly different district as a result of redistricting, picking up Reston, Herndon and parts of Centreville, Tysons, Falls Church and Annandale and losing Mt. Vernon and much of Prince William County.

He faces Republican Chris Perkins (R) along with four other candidates: Chris DeCarlo (Independent), Mark Gibson (Independent), Joe Galdo (Green Party) and Peter Marchetti (Independent Green Party).

Check back with Patch throughout the evening as we bring you updates from the polls and results from the district's precincts.


Gerry Connolly (D) Chris Perkins (R) Mark Gibson Chris Decarlo Joe Galdo Peter Marchetti Total Votes 163,212 (60.05 percent)
98,456 (36.22 percent) 3,299 (1.21 percent)
2,637 (0.97 percent)
1,880 (0.69 percent) 1,653 (0.61 percent)

 


Gerry Connolly (D) Chris Perkins (R) Mark Gibson Chris Decarlo Joe Galdo Peter Marchetti Fairfax County
121,963 77,610 2,591 1,935 1,374 1,148 Fairfax City 5,266 3,737 125 117 79 61 Prince William County 33,137 15,138 527 543 391 133


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