Supporters of Republican Keith Fimian react to an updated vote count Tuesday at the Mason Inn. Fimian gathered with his supporters to wait for the result of the election; he kept a lead as the first precincts reported, but as the night wore on, Connolly took the lead. Photo By Gregory Connolly.
After a long campaign season rife with television ads and roadside signs along what seemed like every road in Fairfax County, the election is over, though it is unclear whether incumbent Democrat Gerry Connolly or Republican Keith Fimian won.
The election – which was too close to call Tuesday – found Connolly to have a lead around 1,000 votes when all was said and done. Fimian has yet to concede, and under Virginia law, he may request a recount.
Fimian, who rented conference space at the Mason Inn Tuesday to await the results of the election with his supporters, apparently lost what was a rematch of the 2008 general election for Virginia’s District 11. This district encompasses most of Fairfax County and part of Prince William County.
Other Northern Virginia congressional districts include the 10th, which runs from Front Royal to Manassas, and the 8th, which includes the entirety of Arlington County in addition to part of Fairfax County.
In what turned out to otherwise be a good election for Northern Virginia incumbents, 30-year Republican Congressman Frank Wolf was re-elected to represent District 10, and Democrat James Moran, who has represented the 8th district since 1991, will continue to serve.
Hundreds of Fimian’s followers gathered in front of a live stream of Fox News to wait for the results of District 11’s election. With each announcement of a Republican victory in Virginia, the crowd would cheer.
Fimian maintained a lead over Connolly as the initial precincts reported, but as the night wore on, Connolly pulled even. The race has yet to be called.
“What you’re witnessing is a change of history, a tidal wave, a tsunami,” said retired Fairfax County police officer Curtis Stafford in reference to news that Republicans were poised to seize control of the U.S. House of Representatives. He stood near the front of the crowd throughout the night. “People have had enough of [Democratic leadership].”
As it became clear that District 11 was going to be very close, Fimian took the stage and addressed his supporters. He was then presented with a framed copy of the Declaration of Independence by his family members.
“Elections are only part one,” said Dean Rutley, a Fimian supporter at the gathering. “The key from my perspective as a grassroots Republican is what kind of leadership team is the incoming Republican majority?”
On the day of the election, George Mason University’s student government put on a vote van service, which ferried students to the polls at Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School. The vans, which were taken from the university van pool, were driven by volunteers.
“Turnout was really good,” said David Bier, the chairman of the University Services Committee for student government. “We probably had 30 people.”
Funding for the vote vans came from student government’s coffers.
It ended up costing $521.50, with more than half of that going toward gas.
“We really want to get students involved,” Bier said. “Most of us are government majors and we understand the democratic process. It’s important for students to go out and become a part of that process that elects leaders who take the city and state into the future.”
Freshman communication major Michael Jordan is a volunteer driver who made the run to the high school precinct several times, said he thought the vote van service was a success.
“A lot of the people I’ve driven wouldn’t have been able to find rides,” Jordan said. “The groups have all had diverse opinions about the possible upcoming changes.”
Sophomore communication major Brittany Passmore rode the vote van to vote.
“I think the vote vans are extremely convenient since a lot of students don’t have cars but they want to have a voice in government,” Passmore said.
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