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Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2013

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The Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election took place November 5, 2013, following a Democratic primary election on June 11, 2013, and a Republican statewide convention on May 17-18, 2013.

Democratic State Senator Ralph Northam won the lieutenant gubernatorial election, defeating Republican E.W. Jackson.[1]

Race background

Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling (R) did not seek re-election in 2013. Nine candidates filed to fill the executive seat, including two Democrats and seven Republicans. State Sen. Ralph Northam defeated Aneesh Chopra for the Democratic Party's nomination for lieutenant governor in the June 11 primary election.[2] Northam's general election opponent was Republican E.W. Jackson. Jackson was nominated by delegates of the Virginia Republican Party at the party-funded statewide primary convention on May 17-18.[3] Until Jackson's convention victory, Virginia Republicans had not nominated an African-American for any statewide office since nominating Maurice Dawkins' in 1988.[4]

In the November 5, 2013, general election, Northam defeated Jackson by a margin of over 10 percentage points.[5]

Deadline Event
March 28 Last day to file candidacy for primary election
May 17-18 Republican primary convention
May 20 Voter registration deadline for primary election
June 11 Primary election, last day for non-party candidates to file candidacy
June 17 Last day for Independent candidates to file for general election
Oct. 15 Voter registration deadline for general election
Nov. 5 General election

Results

General election

Virginia Lieutenant Gubernatorial General Election, 2013
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngRalph Northam 55.1% 1,213,155
     Republican E.W. Jackson 44.5% 980,257
     N/A Write-in 0.3% 7,472
Total Votes 2,200,884
Election Results via Virginia State Board of Elections.

Democratic primary election

Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Democratic Primary Election, 2013
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngRalph Northam 54.2% 78,337
Aneesh Chopra 45.8% 66,098
Total Votes 144,435
Election results via Virginia State Board of Elections.


Candidates

General election



Nominating conventions

Nominating Conventions in Virginia

The candidate selection process in Virginia differs between the political parties. According to the Code of Virginia:[14]

“The duly constituted authorities of the state political party shall have the right to determine the method by which a party nomination for a member of the United States Senate or for any statewide office shall be made. The duly constituted authorities of the political party for the district, county, city, or town in which any other office is to be filled shall have the right to determine the method by which a party nomination for that office shall be made.”

Democratic Party

The Democratic Party of Virginia used conventions to nominate candidates for statewide offices from 1981 through 2001, after which it returned to using primaries. The switch to conventions in 1981 was intended to moderate the party after independent candidate Henry Howell won the 1977 primary. The convention format proved successful for Virginia Democrats during the 1980s, contributing to the election of Chuck Robb in 1981, Gerald Baliles in 1985, and Douglas Wilder in 1989. However, following significant losses in the 1993 and 1997 state elections, the Democratic Party of Virginia reverted to using primaries beginning with the 2001 election cycle. The Democratic Party did not hold a gubernatorial primary in the 2001 and 2005 election cycles as Mark Warner and Tim Kaine ran unopposed.[15]

Republican Party

The Republican Party of Virginia has historically used conventions to select its nominees for statewide offices. Primaries have been used by the party for nominations only on a few occasions, specifically in 1949, 1989, 1997, and 2005.[15] The convention process used in most elections draws from delegates selected by Republicans during municipal and county conventions. The number of delegates per county depends on the strength of the Republican Party in past elections.[16]

Delegates cast their votes on separate ballots for each statewide office. Any uncontested candidates automatically receive the party’s nomination. Contested races start with a ballot to determine if a candidate can surpass the 50% threshold. A candidate who wins more than 50% of first-round ballots receives the nomination for that office. If the first round of ballots does not clear this threshold, the two candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated. The balloting process cuts candidates in each round until three candidates remain. A ballot is taken to eliminate a third-place finisher, and a final ballot is taken between the two remaining candidates.[17]

Polls

General election

Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Poll Ralph Northam (D) E.W. Jackson (R)Not sureMargin of errorSample size
Christopher Newport University Poll of Likely Voters
(October 25-30, 2013)
51%35%15%+/-3.01,038
Washington Post/Abt-SRBI Poll
(October 24-27, 2013)
52%39%6%+/-4.5762
NBC4/NBC News/Marist Poll
(October 13-15, 2013)
48%42%9%+/-4.0596
Roanoke University Poll
(September 30 - October 5, 2013)
39%35%26%+/-3.01,046
Christopher Newport Poll
(October 1-6, 2013)
48%37%16%+/-3.1886
Public Policy Poll
(July 11-14, 2013)
42%35%23%+/-4.0601
Roanoke University Poll
(July 8-14, 2013)
30%28%41%+/-4.3525
Public Policy Poll
(May 24-26, 2013)
35%29%36%+/-3.8672
AVERAGES 43.13% 35% 21.5% +/-3.71 765.75
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.


Democratic primary

Lieutenant Governor of Virginia - 2013 Democratic Primary Race
Poll Aneesh Chopra Ralph NorthamUndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Public Policy Polling
(May 24-26, 2013)
27%18%54%+/-5.5322
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Endorsements

Democratic Party Ralph Northam's candidacy was endorsed by the following individuals and organizations:[18]

  • Washington Post[19]
  • Richmond-Times Dispatch[20]
  • The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce PAC
  • Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce PAC
  • The Farm Bureau
  • The Virginia Association of Realtors
  • The Hampton Roads Business Political Action Committee (HRBizPAC)

Republican Party E.W. Jackson's candidacy was endorsed by the following individuals and organizations:

(West had previously endorsed Scott Lingamfelter in the race, but redirected his support to Jackson after he edged out Lingamfelter and several other Republican hopefuls at the GOP primary nominating convention.[21])

Campaign finance

The Virginia State Board of Elections administers campaign finance law and maintains all records online.

For the primary election:

  • First Pre-Primary -- due by June 3
  • 8-Day Pre-Primary report -- due by June 3, 2013
  • Post-Primary report -- due by July 15, 2013

For the general election:

  • First Pre-General report -- due by October 15, 2013
  • 8-Day Pre-General report -- due by October 28, 2013
  • Post-General report -- due by December 5, 2013

Ralph Northam

Ralph Northam[22] Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period
ExpendituresCash on Hand
Post-Primary ReportJuly 15, 2013$151,505.09$176,413.73$(903,874.85)$106,184.36
8 Day Pre-General ReportOctober 28, 2013$629,223.20$612,244.83$(296,481.66)$944,986.37
Running totals
$788,658.56$(1,200,356.51)

E.W. Jackson

E.W. Jackson[23] Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period
ExpendituresCash on Hand
Post-Primary ReportJuly 19, 2013$37,830.14$141,823.20$(298,285.50)$92,398.46
8 Day Pre-General ReportOctober 28, 2013$209,457.59$233,249.74$(265,254.94)$177,452.39
Running totals
$375,072.94$(563,540.44)

Campaign sites & media

Ralph Northam

Campaign Facebook
Campaign Twitter
Campaign YouTube
"Service" - Released October 22, 2013
"Growing" - Released October 22, 2013

E.W. Jackson

Campaign Facebook
Campaign Twitter
Campaign YouTube
"Parental Choice" - Released March 13, 2013
"Defy Not Comply" - Released March 6, 2013

News

See also

External links

Campaign Websites:

Democratic Party Aneesh Chopra
Democratic Party Ralph Northam

Republican Party Pete Snyder
Republican Party Corey Stewart
Republican Party Steve Martin
Republican Party Jeannemarie Devolites Davis
Republican Party Susan Stimpson
Republican Party E.W. Jackson
Republican Party Scott Lingamfelter

Chopra - Campaign website
Northam - Campaign website

Snyder - Campaign website
Stewart - Campaign website
Martin - Campaign website
Devolites Davis - Campaign website
Stimpson - Campaign website
Jackson - Campaign website
Lingamfelter - Campaign website

Footnotes

  1. ‘’NBC News,’’ “ Democrat to win Lieutenant Governor’s race in Va.” November 5, 2013
  2. Blue Virginia, "Virginia Primary Election Results Live Blog," June 11, 2013
  3. The Washington Post, "Va. GOP settles on Cuccinelli, Obenshain and Jackson for November ballot," May 19, 2013
  4. Afro.com, "Virginia GOP Nominates Conservative Black Minister for Lt. Gov.," May 19, 2013
  5. Virginia State Board of Elections, "2013 Statewide Unofficial Results," accessed November 6, 2013
  6. Washington Post, "Aneesh Chopra to run for Virginia lieutenant governor," July 12, 2012
  7. The Washington Post, "Snyder raises $450,000 for lieutenant governor bid," January 15, 2013
  8. Washington Post, "Scott Lingamfelter announces run for lieutenant governor," June 28, 2012
  9. Washington Post, "Virginia Sen. Stephen Martin plans to run for lt. governor," June 20, 2012
  10. Village News Online, "State Senator Martin decides to run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia," June 27, 2012
  11. Washington Post, "Jeannemarie Devolites-David running for lieutenant governor," September 24, 2012
  12. The Roanoke Times, "Former Del. Ward Armstrong won't run statewide in 2013," December 12, 2013
  13. Washington Post, "Ex-delegate Paula Miller considering a run for lieutenant governor," May 25, 2012
  14. Code of Virginia, “Party to determine method of nominating its candidates for office; exceptions,” accessed June 7, 2013
  15. 15.0 15.1 Sabato’s Crystal Ball, “What Just Happened in Virginia?” May 20, 2013
  16. Richmond Times-Dispatch, "Virginia GOP convention: Jackson wins LG nomination as Snyder withdraws," May 18, 2013
  17. Washington Times, "Chesapeake bishop surprises, wins Va. GOP lieutenant governor nomination," May 19, 2013
  18. Ralph Northam for Lieutenant Governor, "In the News," accessed September 30, 2013
  19. The Washington Post, "Virginia endorsements: Ralph Northam and Mark Herring," October 16, 2013
  20. Richmond Times-Dispatch, "Editorial: Vote for Northam," October 20, 2013
  21. PilotOnline.com, "Allen West to headline fundraiser for LG candidate Jackson," September 26, 2013
  22. Virginia State Board of Elections, "Campaign Finance Report: Ralph Northam for Lt. Governor," July 15, 2013
  23. Virginia State Board of Elections, "Campaign Finance Report: E.W. Jackson for Lt. Governor," July 19, 2013