The conservative candidates won in the mountains of Virginia by margins that qualify for the descriptor “landslide.”  In many jurisdictions in far Southwest Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell and his ticket-mates won with better than 70 per cent of the vote.  In contested races for the House of Delegates, an incumbent Republican won re-election by almost 2-to-1 and a newcomer unseated a Democratic incumbent by a 15-point margin.

The Democratic apologists were quick to point out that Virginia usually elects a Governor from a different party than the Federal-election majority.  True — but not by the stunning margin of 18 points rolled up by Bob McDonnell.  Also, this is only the second time in a century that all three statewide seats have been won by Republicans.  If the liberal Democrats insist on believing that there is “no message here” . . . well, they won’t know what hit them in 2010.

My bailiwick, Southwest Virginia, normally votes Democratic, with a margin that varies from county to county.  Not this time.  The Democratic stronghold of Buchanan County voted for the McDonnell-Bolling-Cuccinelli ticket by better than 60 per cent, a 20-point-plus margin.  In the 9th Congressional District, only one jurisdiction went for Creigh Deeds, and the whole district vote was 66-34 in favor of McDonnell.

Most state delegate races were unopposed but we had two local contests.  In House of Delegates District 3, newcomer Will Morefield unseated a Democratic opponent with a 15-point margin.  Morefield made a major issue of the impact of proposed cap-and-trade legislation on the local economy.  In House District 6, Republican Anne Crockett-Stark retained her seat with 65 per cent of the vote.

Map of Virginia 2009 election results

McDonnell takes convincing victory in Governor’s race