91茄子

91茄子

Kaine wins easily in Virginia

After Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine鈥檚 swift victory, VA Democrats express hope for the future and 2019.

Democrat Tim Kaine didn鈥檛 have to wait long Tuesday night to see whether Virginia voters would be sending him back to the Senate for a second term.

Attendees at Kaine鈥檚 election night watch party at the Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park hotel had to wait about 30 seconds after polls closed on Tuesday for Kaine to be declared the winner. Unofficial results show Kaine defeating his , the at-large chair of the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors, 57 percent to 41.2 percent, according to .

鈥淚 think tonight, Virginia showed who we are, and who we aren鈥檛,鈥 Kaine said.

Sen. Tim Kaine looks out at his election party crowd while delivering his victory speech in Falls Church, Virginia, on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.

Kaine, who took the stage after speeches from numerous Virginia Democratic political figures, including Sen. Mark Warner, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Gov. Ralph Northam and former Virginia Sec. of Education Anne Holton, who is Kaine鈥檚 wife, said he wasn鈥檛 accustomed to having a race called so early.

鈥淭hey called my race at 7 o鈥檆lock and 30 seconds,鈥 Kaine said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a 2 a.m. guy. I鈥檓 not a 7 o鈥檆lock guy.鈥

Kaine, as well as the other speakers, emphasized the need to keep up the Democratic momentum in the state, particularly as Democrats may have a chance to gain control of both chambers of the Virginia. General Assembly. Democrats have not controlled both chambers

The party attendees, the majority of whom trickled in after Kaine鈥檚 race had already been called, stayed huddled around the video boards to watch other races play out. Loud cheers went up when defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock in Virginia鈥檚 10th district.

George Becerra, a Democratic campaign supporter, was one of the first attendees to enter the party when it began at 7 p.m. He said he heard the announcement the race had been called as he walked into the ballroom. With Kaine鈥檚 race in hand, Becerra said he wanted to see if a 鈥渂lue wave鈥 would sweep across the country.

鈥淚鈥檓 here to see the results and hopefully a blue wave or at least a good blue splashing,鈥 Becerra said in the first hour of the rally.

Nationally, of Representatives but failed to take the U.S. Senate. But in Virginia, Democrats had reason to be optimistic. All four Democrats in the House of Representatives won re-election, and three Democrats 鈥 鈥 won House seats from Republican incumbents.

Nick Vucic holds one his daughters at Sen. Tim Kaine鈥檚 watch party in Falls Church, Virginia, on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.

Part of the Democrats鈥 success stemmed from the youth turnout, which has been a focus for that aims to motivate young voters to support progressive candidates. Carter Black, the Virginia state director for NextGen America, said some of the precincts they were tracking surpassed 2014鈥檚 youth turnout by noon Tuesday. She said some precincts doubled 2017鈥檚 youth turnout.

鈥淚 think the enthusiasm among young people has been very high in Virginia,鈥 Black said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen reports of a couple places with almost near 2016 levels of youth vote turnout.鈥

Prior to election day, Kaine heavily campaigned for other candidates across the state and several speakers at his event, including Virginia Democratic Party Chair Susan Swecker, credited Kaine for helping the party make gains in Virginia.

In his victory speech, Kaine said the focus must now be on strengthening Democrats鈥 control in Virginia鈥檚 General Assembly.

鈥淭omorrow I鈥檓 going to rest, but starting the day after tomorrow we鈥檙e starting an effort,鈥 Kaine said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to win back the House and the Senate in Virginia in 2019.鈥

Wash staff

A group of hard-working student journalists from American University covering DMV neighborhoods.

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