While many people were preparing for election night to drag into the early hours of the following morning, Democratic supporters did not have to burn the midnight oil to receive the results of the gubernatorial election.
With speakers blasting Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” Lt. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine took to the stage of the Richmond Marriott to claim victory against Republican nominee Jerry W. Kilgore.
“We’ve done it. … We proved the naysayers wrong,” Kaine said. “We proved that Virginians want a positive vision for Virginia.”
In a campaign filled with negative advertising, Kaine soundly defeated the former attorney general by a 52-46 margin to become the commonwealth’s 70th governor.
Kaine, who was joined onstage by Gov. Mark Warner, four former Virginia governors and other Democratic Party figures, did not waste a moment in telling the audience of supporters and media what he plans to do as governor.
“We’re going to give every child a world-class education,” the governor-elect said. “We are going to tackle our growing transportation problems. We’re going to build on the success that has given Virginia the second-lowest unemployment in the nation. And we’re going to provide tax relief to homeowners in a fiscally responsible way.”
However, Kaine said he is putting those plans on hold for a day.
“Tonight we celebrate,” Kaine said. “Tomorrow we go back to work.”
Despite perceived negative campaigning by his opponent, Kaine said Kilgore “waged a spirited campaign. He deserves our thanks and our respect” for his public service.
The governor-elect also called Independent candidate H. Russell Potts’ campaign honorable and said the state senator “should be congratulated.”
Warner introduced his successor to the audience, saying, “Virginians chose to keep our commonwealth moving forward.”
Warner said Kaine won because of his forward-thinking views for the commonwealth.
“This race has raised a few eyebrows,” the governor said. “(Kaine) won this race on positive vision of where we’re going to take Virginia.”
Before turning the microphone over to the governor-elect, Warner said, “Tim Kaine is a good man with a heart for public service.”
The governor added he was satisfied that the Democratic Party picked up seats in the House of Delegates for the third-straight election.
While the scene at the Marriott was joyous, the Republican Party’s rally across the street at the Greater Richmond Convention Center was not as jubilant.
“I have no regrets,” Kilgore said to the supportive audience. Kilgore added that he ran the campaign with “honor, grace and dignity.”
The Republicans were not shut out though.
State Sen. Bill Bolling, of Hanover, defeated former U.S. Congresswoman Leslie Byrne 51-49 for the lieutenant governor’s post.
“Bill Bolling will make a fantastic lieutenant governor,” Kilgore said.
Warner told the audience that Byrne ran a principled campaign.
Kilgore added, “Bob McDonnell is going to be a fine attorney general.”
This was a point of contention for Democrats across the street, who claimed the race between McDonnell and state Sen. Creigh Deeds, of Bath County, was too close to call.
“All we ask, all we demand is that every vote is counted,” Warner said.
Kaine said his ticket mate would pull out the victory over McDonnell.
“I know Creigh Deeds is a battler,” Kaine said. “I fully expect to be inaugurated with Creigh Deeds as attorney general.”
McDonnell held an edge of less than 4,000 votes, but is within the automatic recount margin should Deeds seek it.
Kaine will be inaugurated Jan. 14, 2006, in Williamsburg, the first governor to take the oath of office there since Thomas Jefferson in 1779.