Melody Kinser
The talk at the entrance to the Lee-Davis High School polling place went from politics to the JROTC program on Nov. 4 as John Cox, left; Joe Green; Ryan Leach, with his back to the camera; and Daniel Cox take a break after the rush of voters that kept the precinct busy from 6 to 8 a.m.
Hanover County voters held close to their conservative values supporting all Republicans in the 2008 General Election.
Published: November 13, 2008
By Melody Kinser
Hanover County voters held close to their conservative values, supporting all Republicans in the 2008 General Election last Tuesday.
According to the State Board of Elections Web site, the county – with 34 precincts – had 56,248 of 67,039 active voters cast ballots for an impressive 83.90 percent turnout in the race for president. Of the 67,814 registered voters, the 56,248 figure amounts to 82.94 percent.
In unofficial results, Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin bested Barack Obama and Joe Biden with votes and percentages of 37,344, 66.39 percent, to 18,447, 32.79 percent.
Despite Hanover’s Republican sweep, Virginia became a “blue” state in the election by helping Obama become the first African-American elected to the nation’s highest office.
Also on the ballot for president were Independent Green, Chuck Baldwin and Darrell Castle, 70, 0.12 percent; Libertarian, Bob Barr and Wayne A. Root, 146, 0.25 percent; Green, Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente, 16, 0.02 percent; Independent, Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez, 137, 0.24 percent; and write-in, 88, 0.15 percent.
Republican James S. “Jim” Gilmore III squeaked by Democrat Mark Warner with 27,559 (49.63 percent) votes to 27,218 (49.02 percent) for the U.S. Senate seat held for 30 years by retiring Sen. John Warner, R-Va. Voter turnout in that race was 55,519 of 67,039 active voters for 82.81 percent. Of the 67,814 registered voters, that percentage is 81.86 percent.
Statewide, Warner handily defeated Gilmore to head to Capitol Hill.
Independent Green candidate Glenda Gail Parker and Libertarian William B. Redpath also were on the ballot for the U.S. Senate seat, bringing in votes of 261 for 0.47 percent and 362 for 0.65 percent, respectively. Write-ins for that office were 119, 0.21 percent.
Hanover County voters helped U.S. Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, return to the U.S. House of Representatives. The incumbent easily beat Democrat Anita Hartke 40,276 votes (73.79 percent) to 14,190 (26.00 percent). Write-ins accounted for 109 votes, 0.19 percent. Cantor has represented the district since 2000.
BY THE NUMBERS:
President
McCain-Palin — 37,344
Obama-Biden — 18,447
U.S. Senate
Gilmore — 27,559
Warner — 27,218
U.S. House of Representatives
Cantor — 40,276
Hartke — 14,190
