UPDATE: Mark Peake to take Tom Garrett’s 22nd district Senate seat

UPDATE: Mark Peake to take Tom Garrett’s 22nd district Senate seat

A Republican Lynchburg attorney has defeated two challengers in a special election for a central Virginia Senate seat, ensuring that the Legislature’s upper chamber remains in GOP control.

Results in Tuesday’s 22nd Senate District race were still being tallied late Tuesday, but Democrat Ryant Washington’s campaign manager said Washington has conceded to Republican Mark Peake.

Unofficial results from the state Department of Elections with more than 90 percent of precincts reporting showed Peake with a commanding lead. He had around 54 percent, Washington around 38 percent and independent Joe Hines had around 8 percent.

An elections official said results were delayed because too few ballots were printed in Lynchburg, and the back-up ballots had to be hand-counted.

Had Washington won, it would have created a 20-20 split in the Senate and effectively handed control to Democrats because of the lieutenant governor’s tiebreaker status.

9:15 p.m.:

Mark Peake will likely win Tom Garrett’s Senate seat representing the 22nd district.

According to the Virginia Board of Elections website, at last check Peake was ahead of challenger Ryant Washington 54% to 37%, with 85% of precincts reporting.

Peake has 25 years of courtroom experience as an attorney. He also represented the Lynchburg area on the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

8:20 p.m. (AP):

A Republican sheriff’s office captain has defeated a Democratic school teacher in the race for a Virginia Beach-area House of Delegates seat.

Unofficial results from the state Department of Elections show N.D. “Rocky” Holcomb III beat Cheryl Turpin by about six percentage points Tuesday in the 85th District.

The special election was held to replace Republican Scott Taylor, who was elected to Congress. Republicans already controlled a solid majority in the House of Delegates.

The General Assembly convenes Wednesday.
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7:45 p.m.
Democratic State Del. Jennifer McClellan has won a seat in the state Senate.

Unofficial results from the state Department of Elections show McClellan beat Libertarian Corey Fauconier in Tuesday’s special election.

Republicans did not field a candidate for the heavily Democratic-leaning 9th Senate District that includes Charles City County and parts of Henrico County, Hanover County and Richmond.

McClellan is a corporate attorney who lives in Richmond. She was elected to the House of Delegates in 2005.

The special election was held to replace Democrat Donald McEachin, who was elected to Congress in November.

Story Here:
http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Virginia-special-elections-round-up-410333065.html

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