By Staff Reports
Representatives from the two major political parties for the November ballot were selected in the dual June 8 primary.
In the only Republican primary for the area, Wren Williams, a Stuart attorney, bested incumbent Del. Charles Poindexter, R-Glade Hill, to win the GOP’s nomination for Virginia’s 9th House of Delegates seat.
“I’m humbled and honored to be the Republican nominee for Virginia’s 9th House of Delegates district,” Williams said. “Voters sent a loud message to Richmond and special insiders that they are fed up with business as usual from career politicians. This isn’t the end. This is the start of change for Southside and Southwest Virginia.”
Williams won all seven precincts in Henry County, garnering 526 votes to the 186 cast for Poindexter, according to unofficial results from the State Board of Elections.
In the Bassett #2 precinct, Williams received 23 votes compared to 13 votes for Poindexter. Williams had 79 votes in the Gunville precinct, while Poindexter notched 43 votes. The vote tally for Williams in Scott’s Tanyard was 150, which more than triple the 47 votes cast for Poindexter.
In the Horsepasture #1 precinct, Williams received 102 votes compared to 24 cast for Poindexter. The Spencer precinct netted 89 votes for Williams and 32 votes for Poindexter. Williams bested Poindexter in the Bassett #1 precinct, with 40 to 15 votes.
The absentee ballot also went to Williams, who received 43 votes compared to 12 for Poindexter.
According to unofficial results from the State Board of Elections website, Williams also carried Patrick County.
“We weren’t surprised. We knew we put in the work on the ground, and we took the time to get to know voters and their concerns,” Williams said, adding he is focused on providing better service to the district.
“This couldn’t have been accomplished without the help of so many dedicated volunteers, friends, family and my great staff,” Williams said by phone from his victory party at Stanburn Winery.
Poindexter, a 14-year veteran lawmaker, carried Franklin County by 15 to 20 percent as of 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to unofficial results on the website.
Williams said that did not surprise him, “but obviously there were a lot of individuals” who voted against Poindexter.
Williams thanked Poindexter “for the service he has provided,” and noted that Poindexter has been loyal and held fast to the party’s values. “It’s just time for a change.”
Poindexter could not be reached for comment.
The Democratic nominee for governor will be former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who received more than 300,000 votes in the statewide race. This accounted for approximately 62 percent of the total vote share.
Hala Ayala, who tallied more than 176,000 votes and almost 37.5 percent of the vote, won the local contest for lieutenant governor.
Incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring fended off challenger Jay Jones with more than 268,000 votes and 56.6 percent of the vote.
McAuliffe was the favorite candidate locally, winning 71.3 percent of the vote in Henry County and 66.2 percent in Martinsville. Overall, McAuliffe received 1,118 votes in the county and 459 votes in the city. The former governor gained the most votes from absentee ballots and had the highest turnout at the Mt. Olivet precinct, with 129 votes.
While Ayala won the statewide race, she wasn’t the top vote-getter locally.
Sam Rasoul received the most votes in both the county and the city. Rasoul took 40.97 percent of the vote in the county and 42.26 percent in the city.
Herring, who was the winner statewide, also didn’t carry the vote locally.
Jones won Henry County with 963 votes to Herring’s 593. Jones also won the share of votes in the city, with 438 compared to 242 cast for Herring.
