2005 Virginia gubernatorial election
November 8, 2005
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| Turnout | 45.0% 1.4[1] | ||||||||||||||||
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Kaine: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Kilgore: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Virginia |
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The 2005 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2005, to elect the next governor of Virginia. The election was held concurrently with other elections for Virginia's statewide offices, the House of Delegates, and other United States' offices. Incumbent Democratic governor Mark Warner was ineligible to run for re-election as the Constitution of Virginia prohibits its governors from serving consecutive terms. Democratic Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine and Republican Jerry Kilgore easily won their respective primaries. Republican state senator Russ Potts ran as an independent candidate. Kaine defeated Kilgore by 5.78% points, which mirrored Warner's 5.13% margin in the 2001 Virginia gubernatorial election.
In the 2001 Virginia gubernatorial election, Democrat Mark Warner was accredited with strong performances in rural areas of the commonwealth which saw some reversions to Republican Jerry Kilgore in this election. Kaine made heavy attempts to appeal to suburban and exurban counties in Northern Virginia where President Bush did strongly in 2004 through campaigning with Governor Warner and support of zoning laws.[2] Democratic governor Warner maintained high approval ratings in the state with 70–80% job approval — Kaine consistently associated himself with him. Kilgore ran a heavily aggressive campaign by attacking Kaine as an "out-of-touch liberal" who supported tax increases and opposed the death penalty.[3][4] Kilgore lead in the initial polls though his aggressive campaign strategy saw Kaine become the favorite by Election Day.
Virginia was considered competitive throughout the election, while the state's historical precedent of voting the party not in the presidential office since 1977 was noted as an important factor in the campaign. The election was largely viewed as a referendum on President Bush's second term ahead of the 2006 midterms by political pundits. Bush's late appearance in the state was viewed by both political parties as an attempt to potentially motivate their voters on Election Day. Warner's popularity and Kaine's focus on affordability were seen as the main factors for Kaine's win.[3][5]
This is the most recent election in which the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of opposite parties were elected. This is the last gubernatorial election when Accomack County, Buchanan County, Fluvanna County, Henry County, King and Queen County, Nottoway County, Rappahannock County, Westmoreland County and the independent cities of Buena Vista and Lynchburg have voted Democratic for governor.
Democratic primary
On March 16, 2005, Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine formally launched his campaign for governor though he was widely anticipated as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination before his official announcement.[6] From July 1 to December 31, 2004, Kaine raised $2.1 million with $3.2 million to spend in the campaign. In addition, he received $1.5 million in financial support from the Democratic National Committee.[7] He did not receive opposition in the primary, becoming the Democratic nominee by default.
Candidates
Nominee
- Tim Kaine, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (2002-2006) and former mayor of Richmond (1998-2001)[6]
Republican primary
On January 17, 2005, Republican Jerry Kilgore announced he would resign from Attorney General to campaign for governor on February 1. From July 1 to December 31, 2004, Kilgore raised $2 million with $3.3 million to spend in the campaign.[7] He launched his campaign with support for conservative economic and social policies.[8]
On February 28, 2005, Warrenton mayor, George Fitch declared his candidacy for governor as the more conservative candidate — he promised to never raise taxes. Due to Republican support and fundraising advantages for Kilgore, Fitch was considered the underdog in the Republican primary.[9]
On June 4, Kilgore easily defeated Fitch in the primary becoming the Republican nominee.
Candidates
Nominee
- Jerry Kilgore, former Attorney General of Virginia (2002-2005)[7]
Eliminated in primary
- George Fitch, mayor of Warrenton (1998-2014)[9]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jerry Kilgore | 145,002 | 82.78 | |
| Republican | George Fitch | 30,168 | 17.22 | |
| Total votes | 175,170 | 100.00 | ||
Third Parties and Independents
Candidates
Independent Republican
- Russ Potts, state senator from Virginia's 27th district (Independent Republican)
General election
Candidates
- Tim Kaine, lieutenant governor of Virginia and former mayor of Richmond (Democratic)
- Jerry Kilgore, former attorney general of Virginia (Republican)
- Russ Potts, state senator from Winchester (Independent Republican)
The general election was expected to be close, with Independent candidate Russ Potts as a possible spoiler candidate. Kaine remained behind in polls throughout most of the campaign, at one point 10 points behind Kilgore, but captured a slight lead in the final weeks of the campaign. Kaine led in some polls for the first time in October 2005 and held his lead into the final week before the election.[11]
Kaine closely associated himself with popular outgoing Democratic Governor Mark Warner during his campaign; he won his race by a slightly larger margin than Warner. He promised homeowner tax relief, centrist fiscal leadership, and strong support for education.[12] A number of factors, from the sagging poll numbers of President George W. Bush to a public disgust over the death penalty ads run by Kilgore, have also been cited as key to his decisive win.[13][14]
The election was the most expensive in Virginia history, with the candidates combined raising over $42 million.[15]
Campaign
Kilgore resigned as attorney general in February 2005 to run for governor (as is the convention in Virginia) and easily won the primary election against Warrenton Mayor George B. Fitch to become the Republican nominee. In the general election, he ran against Democratic nominee Tim Kaine, the lieutenant governor of Virginia, and State Senator Russ Potts, a pro-choice Republican who ran as an independent candidate. Early in the race, Kilgore showed solid leads of ten points or more in the polls, but Kaine steadily closed the gap and ultimately defeated Kilgore by a margin of 52% to 46%.
Kilgore's campaign was at times criticized for taking steps to avoid debates; Kilgore refused to debate Potts for the majority of the campaign, at times leaving Kaine and Potts to debate each other in his absence. He agreed to debate only with Kaine, and only if the footage could not be aired in campaign commercials. During this debate, he refused to answer whether or not he would make abortion a crime. This apparent public moderation of his previously open and hardline stance on abortion troubled some of his conservative supporters.
He was further criticized for failing to limit his negative advertisements to 50% of his campaign's total publicity as Kaine proposed. One such advertisement featured a father whose son had been murdered by a man who was on Virginia's death row; the father expressed doubt that the sentence would be carried out if Kaine were elected and alleged that Kaine would not even have authorized the execution of Adolf Hitler, based on an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch.[16] The negative reaction to the mention of Hitler combined with Kaine's pledge to carry out the death penalty and explanation of his personal opposition as arising from his Catholic faith helped to neutralize what many observers thought would've been a potent issue for Kilgore. Kaine's campaign also ran an ad entitled "Wrong" quoting many Virginia newspapers in their condemnation of Kilgore and his campaign ads which stated (all caps emphasis) "All these newspapers can't be WRONG: 'Jerry Kilgore's ads are a VILE attempt to manipulate for political gain. . . they TWIST the truth. . . and SMEAR Tim Kaine. . . Kilgore's attacks are DISHONEST. . . FALSELY accuse Kaine. . . and TAR a decent man. . . Kilgore CROSSED the line. . . DRAGGING Kaine's beliefs through the mud. . . Jerry Kilgore should APOLOGIZE to Tim Kaine.'"[17]
In trying to explain how a solid Republican could lose a traditionally Republican state by such a large margin, political commentators cited numerous key factors. Kaine's campaign had many political advantages, including his association with the state's popular Democratic Governor Mark Warner and defense of Warner's 2004 budget priorities, his "response ads" to Kilgore's death penalty advertisements where he spoke to voters about his religious convictions and as mentioned above, reminded them about how a large cross-section of Virginia media strongly condemned Kilgore for his negative death penalty ads, his relentless in-person campaigning across the state, and his opposition to tax increases. Experienced attorney Lawrence Roberts served as Kaine's campaign chairman.[18] In contrast, Kilgore's campaign had many political disadvantages, including a backlash over the death penalty ads that Kilgore's campaign ran in the fall, the relatively low poll numbers of then-President George W. Bush at the time of the election, and a bitter division between the moderate and conservative wings of the Republican Party over tax and spending priorities.
Debates
- Complete video of first debate, September 13, 2005
- Complete video of second debate, October 9, 2005
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[19] | Tossup | October 25, 2005 |
Polling
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Tim Kaine (D) | Jerry Kilgore (R) | Other/Undecided [a] |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Clear Politics[20] | November 2–7, 2005 | November 7, 2005 | 48.0% | 45.0% | 7%[b] | Kaine +3.0% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[c] |
Margin of error |
Tim Kaine (D) | Jerry Kilgore (R) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[21][d] | November 5–7, 2005 | 804 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 50% | 45% | 4%[e] | 1% |
| Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategies[20] | November 2–3, 2005 | 625 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 45% | 44% | 4%[f] | 7% |
| Rasmussen Reports[22] | November 2, 2005 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 49% | 46% | 2%[g] | 3% |
| Rasmussen Reports[23] | October 27, 2005 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 46% | 44% | 4%[h] | 6% |
| Roanoke College[24] | October 22–30, 2005 | 407 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 44% | 36% | 5%[i] | 15% |
| The Washington Post[25] | October 23–26, 2005 | 1,004 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 47% | 44% | 4%[j] | 5% |
| Rasmussen Reports[26] | October 20, 2005 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 46% | 48% | 2%[k] | 4% |
| Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[20] | October 18–20, 2005 | 625 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 42% | 44% | 5%[l] | 9% |
| SurveyUSA[27][m] | October 14–16, 2005 | 750 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 47% | 45% | 6%[n] | 2% |
| Financial Dynamics[28][o] | October 13–16, 2005 | 500 (RV) | ± 4.4% | 40% | 38% | 5%[p] | 17% |
| 321 (LV) | ± 5.6% | 41% | 40% | 5%[q] | 14% | ||
| Rasmussen Reports[29] | October 10–11, 2005 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 44% | 46% | 1%[r] | 9% |
| Rasmussen Reports[30] | September 28, 2005 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 45% | 45% | 5%[s] | 5% |
| SurveyUSA[31][t] | September 16–18, 2005 | 636 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 43% | 46% | 7%[u] | 4% |
| Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[20] | September 13–15, 2005 | 625 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 40% | 41% | 6%[v] | 13% |
| Rasmussen Reports[32] | September 14, 2005 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 41% | 44% | 5% | 10% |
| 40% | 43% | 7%[w] | 10% | ||||
| The Washington Post[33] | September 6–9, 2005 | 1,036 (RV) | ± 3.0% | 41% | 45% | 5%[x] | 9% |
| 571 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 44% | 51% | 4%[y] | 1% | ||
| SurveyUSA[34][z] | August 6–8, 2005 | 568 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 43% | 48% | 6%[aa] | 4% |
| Rasmussen Reports[35] | August 3, 2005 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 39% | 45% | 5% | 11% |
| Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[36] | July 19–21, 2005 | 625 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 38% | 37% | 9%[ab] | 16% |
| Rasmussen Reports[37] | July 12, 2005 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 41% | 47% | 4% | 8% |
| SurveyUSA[38][ac] | June 28–29, 2005 | 494 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 39% | 49% | 8%[ad] | 7% |
| Rasmussen Reports[39] | June 15, 2005 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 40% | 46% | 2% | 12% |
| SurveyUSA[40][ae] | May 15–16, 2005 | 575 (RV) | ± 4.2% | 40% | 44% | 5%[af] | 11% |
| Rasmussen Reports[41] | April 14, 2005 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 36% | 44% | 5% | 15% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Tim Kaine | 1,025,942 | 51.72% | −0.44% | |
| Republican | Jerry Kilgore | 912,327 | 45.99% | −1.04% | |
| Independent | Russ Potts | 43,953 | 2.22% | ||
| Write-in | 1,556 | 0.08% | +0.04% | ||
| Majority | 113,615 | 5.73% | +0.60% | ||
| Turnout | 1,983,778 | 44.96% | −1.4% | ||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
Results by county and independent city
| County[43] | Kaine | Votes | Kilgore | Votes | Potts | Votes | Others | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accomack | 49.8% | 3,860 | 48.5% | 3,754 | 1.6% | 126 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Albemarle | 61.2% | 18,455 | 36.4% | 10,994 | 2.4% | 711 | 0.0% | 14 |
| Alexandria | 71.9% | 25,061 | 26.3% | 9,173 | 1.7% | 605 | 0.1% | 25 |
| Alleghany | 53.9% | 2,907 | 44.0% | 2,373 | 2.1% | 115 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Amelia | 37.0% | 1,368 | 60.9% | 2,251 | 2.0% | 74 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Amherst | 43.6% | 3,576 | 54.2% | 4,450 | 2.1% | 175 | 0.0% | 4 |
| Appomattox | 39.5% | 1,804 | 58.3% | 2,663 | 2.2% | 99 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Arlington | 74.3% | 42,319 | 23.9% | 13,631 | 1.7% | 990 | 0.1% | 49 |
| Augusta | 33.1% | 6,395 | 63.1% | 12,197 | 3.7% | 721 | 0.1% | 12 |
| Bath | 45.1% | 729 | 53.2% | 860 | 1.6% | 26 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Bedford County | 37.1% | 7,524 | 60.8% | 12,330 | 2.1% | 420 | 0.1% | 14 |
| Bedford | 49.1% | 892 | 48.2% | 877 | 2.6% | 47 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Bland | 36.8% | 706 | 61.4% | 1,176 | 1.8% | 34 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Botetourt | 39.4% | 4,083 | 58.4% | 6,053 | 2.2% | 227 | 0.1% | 10 |
| Bristol | 37.8% | 1,548 | 61.5% | 2,515 | 0.7% | 27 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Brunswick | 60.3% | 2,691 | 39.0% | 1,742 | 0.7% | 31 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Buchanan | 52.2% | 3,171 | 47.3% | 2,875 | 0.4% | 27 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Buckingham | 47.9% | 1,822 | 50.0% | 1,899 | 2.1% | 80 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Buena Vista | 51.9% | 799 | 46.3% | 713 | 1.8% | 28 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Campbell | 36.8% | 5,319 | 61.3% | 8,864 | 1.8% | 264 | 0.1% | 15 |
| Caroline | 53.7% | 3,396 | 44.0% | 2,786 | 2.2% | 142 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Carroll | 38.9% | 2,942 | 59.2% | 4,485 | 1.9% | 143 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Charles City | 69.1% | 1,565 | 29.6% | 671 | 1.3% | 29 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Charlotte | 43.2% | 1,637 | 54.9% | 2,078 | 1.8% | 69 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Charlottesville | 79.4% | 8,018 | 18.5% | 1,870 | 2.0% | 205 | 0.1% | 11 |
| Chesapeake | 50.3% | 26,612 | 47.1% | 24,885 | 2.6% | 1,357 | 0.1% | 34 |
| Chesterfield | 44.7% | 40,134 | 53.6% | 48,112 | 1.7% | 1,484 | 0.1% | 81 |
| Clarke | 45.0% | 2,225 | 47.6% | 2,350 | 7.3% | 363 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Colonial Heights | 29.4% | 1,777 | 68.2% | 4,116 | 2.4% | 143 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Covington | 61.5% | 1,022 | 35.3% | 587 | 3.2% | 53 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Craig | 42.4% | 754 | 54.8% | 975 | 2.7% | 48 | 0.2% | 3 |
| Culpeper | 38.0% | 3,689 | 59.4% | 5,762 | 2.5% | 242 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Cumberland | 43.8% | 1,144 | 54.3% | 1,420 | 1.9% | 50 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Danville | 53.3% | 6,052 | 45.6% | 5,177 | 1.0% | 119 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Dickenson | 48.0% | 2,377 | 51.6% | 2,559 | 0.4% | 18 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Dinwiddie | 46.4% | 3,168 | 51.6% | 3,523 | 1.9% | 131 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Emporia | 48.6% | 796 | 49.8% | 815 | 1.6% | 26 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Essex | 48.7% | 1,500 | 49.8% | 1,533 | 1.5% | 45 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Fairfax County | 60.1% | 163,667 | 38.0% | 103,285 | 1.8% | 4,907 | 0.1% | 241 |
| Fairfax | 57.2% | 3,865 | 40.7% | 2,750 | 2.0% | 132 | 0.1% | 9 |
| Falls Church | 72.5% | 3,138 | 25.5% | 1,102 | 1.8% | 77 | 0.2% | 10 |
| Fauquier | 43.4% | 7,746 | 53.3% | 9,505 | 3.2% | 576 | 0.1% | 20 |
| Floyd | 44.4% | 1,959 | 52.7% | 2,324 | 2.9% | 129 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Fluvanna | 49.7% | 3,592 | 47.8% | 3,456 | 2.5% | 178 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Franklin County | 44.9% | 7,017 | 52.2% | 8,157 | 2.8% | 441 | 0.0% | 3 |
| Franklin | 57.5% | 1,394 | 40.8% | 988 | 1.7% | 41 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Frederick | 33.7% | 6,027 | 59.8% | 10,698 | 6.3% | 1,125 | 0.1% | 26 |
| Fredericksburg | 60.8% | 2,611 | 36.4% | 1,561 | 2.7% | 118 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Galax | 50.0% | 730 | 47.5% | 693 | 2.5% | 36 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Giles | 49.3% | 2,570 | 48.1% | 2,507 | 2.5% | 132 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Gloucester | 39.6% | 3,985 | 56.6% | 5,688 | 3.7% | 373 | 0.1% | 12 |
| Goochland | 42.4% | 3,292 | 55.6% | 4,313 | 1.9% | 146 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Grayson | 40.3% | 1,875 | 58.3% | 2,710 | 1.4% | 66 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Greene | 41.1% | 1,846 | 56.3% | 2,526 | 2.6% | 115 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Greensville | 55.8% | 1,833 | 43.4% | 1,424 | 0.8% | 25 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Halifax | 43.8% | 3,931 | 54.5% | 4,887 | 1.7% | 149 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Hampton | 63.8% | 20,961 | 33.7% | 11,078 | 2.5% | 814 | 0.1% | 25 |
| Hanover | 36.3% | 12,784 | 61.5% | 21,637 | 2.2% | 770 | 0.1% | 19 |
| Harrisonburg | 51.0% | 3,539 | 46.8% | 3,251 | 2.0% | 138 | 0.2% | 12 |
| Henrico | 53.2% | 49,170 | 45.1% | 41,619 | 1.6% | 1,492 | 0.1% | 78 |
| Henry | 50.8% | 7,454 | 47.8% | 7,004 | 1.4% | 198 | 0.0% | 3 |
| Highland | 39.5% | 478 | 57.8% | 700 | 2.6% | 32 | 0.1% | 1 |
| Hopewell | 45.1% | 2,300 | 53.0% | 2,705 | 1.8% | 90 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Isle of Wight | 45.7% | 4,664 | 51.5% | 5,262 | 2.8% | 285 | 0.0% | 4 |
| James City | 48.5% | 10,205 | 48.0% | 10,104 | 3.3% | 704 | 0.1% | 16 |
| King and Queen | 54.3% | 1,114 | 43.7% | 896 | 2.0% | 40 | 0.0% | 1 |
| King George | 43.0% | 2,042 | 54.1% | 2,569 | 2.8% | 133 | 0.1% | 5 |
| King William | 42.7% | 1,951 | 54.9% | 2,509 | 2.4% | 108 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Lancaster | 44.2% | 2,043 | 53.3% | 2,463 | 2.4% | 113 | 0.1% | 6 |
| Lee | 34.4% | 2,453 | 65.0% | 4,640 | 0.6% | 42 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Lexington | 64.6% | 1,097 | 33.4% | 567 | 1.9% | 33 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Loudoun | 51.6% | 31,074 | 45.8% | 27,539 | 2.5% | 1,501 | 0.1% | 65 |
| Louisa | 45.9% | 3,716 | 51.7% | 4,179 | 2.4% | 193 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Lunenburg | 45.3% | 1,490 | 53.2% | 1,749 | 1.5% | 48 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Lynchburg | 50.9% | 8,329 | 47.1% | 7,708 | 1.9% | 308 | 0.2% | 27 |
| Madison | 43.2% | 1,672 | 54.4% | 2,105 | 2.3% | 90 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Manassas | 46.2% | 3,167 | 51.6% | 3,532 | 2.1% | 147 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Manassas Park | 45.7% | 650 | 52.8% | 751 | 1.4% | 20 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Martinsville | 62.4% | 2,363 | 36.4% | 1,380 | 1.1% | 43 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Mathews | 40.7% | 1,452 | 54.5% | 1,946 | 4.8% | 170 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Mecklenburg | 42.8% | 2,986 | 55.4% | 3,864 | 1.9% | 131 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Middlesex | 40.2% | 1,530 | 57.0% | 2,167 | 2.7% | 104 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Montgomery | 55.4% | 11,509 | 41.8% | 8,670 | 2.7% | 560 | 0.1% | 19 |
| Nelson | 55.4% | 2,755 | 42.5% | 2,113 | 2.1% | 102 | 0.0% | 2 |
| New Kent | 40.4% | 2,241 | 57.3% | 3,179 | 2.3% | 127 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Newport News | 57.4% | 21,743 | 39.9% | 15,095 | 2.6% | 992 | 0.1% | 42 |
| Norfolk | 66.1% | 27,791 | 30.7% | 12,899 | 3.1% | 1,290 | 0.1% | 50 |
| Northampton | 60.8% | 2,058 | 37.1% | 1,256 | 2.2% | 73 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Northumberland | 44.3% | 2,104 | 53.6% | 2,548 | 2.0% | 95 | 0.1% | 6 |
| Norton | 44.9% | 449 | 54.0% | 539 | 1.1% | 11 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Nottoway | 49.9% | 1,993 | 48.6% | 1,942 | 1.5% | 59 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Orange | 45.5% | 3,888 | 52.4% | 4,481 | 2.1% | 182 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Page | 38.7% | 2,385 | 58.2% | 3,591 | 3.0% | 185 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Patrick | 41.7% | 2,111 | 56.4% | 2,853 | 1.8% | 93 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Petersburg | 81.8% | 5,995 | 17.4% | 1,274 | 0.8% | 59 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Pittsylvania | 37.7% | 6,363 | 60.8% | 10,252 | 1.5% | 250 | 0.0% | 6 |
| Poquoson | 34.2% | 1,383 | 62.2% | 2,515 | 3.5% | 143 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Portsmouth | 65.7% | 16,314 | 31.9% | 7,926 | 2.3% | 560 | 0.1% | 17 |
| Powhatan | 32.3% | 2,744 | 65.6% | 5,580 | 2.0% | 170 | 0.1% | 6 |
| Prince Edward | 52.1% | 2,546 | 46.2% | 2,259 | 1.7% | 85 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Prince George | 40.9% | 3,382 | 57.5% | 4,751 | 1.6% | 130 | 0.0% | 3 |
| Prince William | 49.9% | 33,364 | 48.2% | 32,178 | 1.8% | 1,220 | 0.1% | 35 |
| Pulaski | 46.5% | 4,427 | 51.4% | 4,901 | 2.1% | 199 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Radford | 54.2% | 1,928 | 43.1% | 1,534 | 2.6% | 94 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Rappahannock | 51.1% | 1,397 | 47.0% | 1,283 | 1.8% | 50 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Richmond County | 39.3% | 863 | 58.8% | 1,293 | 1.9% | 42 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Richmond | 75.9% | 38,900 | 22.5% | 11,529 | 1.5% | 769 | 0.1% | 40 |
| Roanoke County | 44.7% | 14,125 | 52.8% | 16,686 | 2.4% | 755 | 0.1% | 29 |
| Roanoke | 61.8% | 14,207 | 35.9% | 8,239 | 2.2% | 505 | 0.1% | 21 |
| Rockbridge | 46.1% | 2,993 | 51.6% | 3,354 | 2.2% | 142 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Rockingham | 32.4% | 6,560 | 65.5% | 13,262 | 2.0% | 404 | 0.1% | 19 |
| Russell | 43.9% | 3,431 | 55.2% | 4,314 | 0.9% | 69 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Salem | 47.1% | 3,788 | 49.7% | 3,993 | 3.0% | 242 | 0.1% | 12 |
| Scott | 26.2% | 2,156 | 73.2% | 6,016 | 0.5% | 43 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Shenandoah | 32.4% | 3,996 | 63.9% | 7,874 | 3.6% | 438 | 0.1% | 12 |
| Smyth | 36.7% | 2,989 | 62.1% | 5,053 | 1.1% | 91 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Southampton | 49.8% | 2,442 | 48.0% | 2,354 | 2.2% | 110 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Spotsylvania | 43.8% | 11,061 | 54.0% | 13,635 | 2.1% | 533 | 0.2% | 38 |
| Stafford | 43.6% | 10,924 | 54.1% | 13,559 | 2.2% | 564 | 0.1% | 28 |
| Staunton | 50.0% | 3,384 | 46.0% | 3,112 | 4.0% | 270 | 0.0% | 3 |
| Suffolk | 53.7% | 10,480 | 43.9% | 8,561 | 2.3% | 456 | 0.1% | 12 |
| Surry | 60.7% | 1,480 | 37.7% | 919 | 1.5% | 37 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Sussex | 54.5% | 1,739 | 43.9% | 1,401 | 1.5% | 48 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Tazewell | 40.8% | 4,194 | 58.1% | 5,970 | 1.0% | 106 | 0.0% | 4 |
| Virginia Beach | 48.6% | 47,120 | 48.0% | 46,471 | 3.3% | 3,178 | 0.1% | 120 |
| Warren | 40.3% | 3,408 | 55.7% | 4,705 | 3.9% | 329 | 0.1% | 9 |
| Washington | 33.9% | 5,188 | 65.4% | 10,009 | 0.7% | 108 | 0.0% | 5 |
| Waynesboro | 44.5% | 2,223 | 51.9% | 2,596 | 3.6% | 181 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Westmoreland | 52.3% | 2,219 | 45.4% | 1,924 | 2.2% | 93 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Williamsburg | 60.5% | 1,782 | 36.7% | 1,081 | 2.7% | 80 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Winchester | 45.1% | 2,683 | 42.0% | 2,497 | 12.8% | 763 | 0.1% | 8 |
| Wise | 38.2% | 3,871 | 61.2% | 6,190 | 0.6% | 56 | 0.0% | 5 |
| Wythe | 37.8% | 3,125 | 59.9% | 4,954 | 2.2% | 185 | 0.1% | 5 |
| York | 44.4% | 8,142 | 52.1% | 9,565 | 3.4% | 620 | 0.1% | 16 |
Counties and independent cities that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- James City (no municipalities)
- Rappahannock (largest city: Washington)
- Virginia Beach (independent city)
- Chesapeake (independent city)
- Harrisonburg (independent city)
- Prince William (largest borough: Manassas)
- Staunton (independent city)
- Loudoun (largest borough: Leesburg)
- Fluvanna (largest borough: Lake Monticello)
Counties and independent cities that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Appomattox (largest city: Appomattox)
- Amherst (largest city: Amherst)
- Bath (largest city: Hot Springs)
- Buckingham (largest city: Dillwyn)
- Charlotte (largest city: Keysville)
- Craig (largest city: New Castle)
- Cumberland (largest city: Farmville)
- Dickenson (largest borough: Clintwood)
- Dinwiddie (largest town: McKenney)
- Essex (largest city: Tappahannock)
- Emporia (independent city)
- Franklin (largest city: Rocky Mount)
- Halifax (largest city: South Boston)
- Hopewell (independent city)
- Isle of Wight (largest city: Smithfield)
- Norton (independent city)
- Salem (independent city)
- Louisa (largest city: Louisa)
- Lunenburg (largest city: Victoria)
- Lee (largest city: Pennington Gap)
- Northumberland (largest city: Heathsville)
- Pulaski (largest city: Pulaski)
- Russell (largest municipality: Lebanon)
- Rockbridge (largest city: Lexington)
- Smyth (largest city: Marion)
- Tazewell (largest city: Richlands)
- Wise (largest city: Big Stone Gap)
See also
Notes
- ^ Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
- ^ Potts with 3%.
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - ^ Poll sponsored by WSLS-TV Roanoke and [[WUSA (TV}| WUSA-TV Washington, DC]]
- ^ Potts with 3%.
- ^ Potts with 4%.
- ^ Potts with 2%.
- ^ Potts with 4%.
- ^ Potts with 5%.
- ^ Potts with 4%.
- ^ Potts with 2%.
- ^ Potts with 5%.
- ^ Poll sponsored by WSLS-TV Roanoke and WUSA-TV Washington, DC
- ^ Potts with 4%.
- ^ Poll sponsored by The Hotline/Diageo
- ^ Potts with 5%.
- ^ Potts with 5%.
- ^ Russ Potts with 1%
- ^ Potts with 5%.
- ^ Poll sponsored by WSLS-TV Roanoke and [[WUSA (TV}| WUSA-TV Washington, DC]]
- ^ Potts with 4%.
- ^ Potts with 6%.
- ^ Potts with 5%.
- ^ Potts with 5%.
- ^ Potts with 4%.
- ^ Poll sponsored by WSLS-TV Roanoke
- ^ Potts with 3%.
- ^ Poots with 9%.
- ^ Poll sponsored by WSLS-TV Roanoke
- ^ Potts with 5%.
- ^ Poll sponsored by WSLS-TV Roanoke
- ^ Russ Potts with 5%.
References
- ^ Virginia Department of Elections (2016). "Registration/Turnout Statistics". The Commonwealth of Virginia. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- ^ Shear, Michael D. (October 18, 2005). "Kaine Sounds Slow-Growth Note in Exurbs". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b Vaughn, Emma (November 9, 2005). "2 Wins Lift Hopes of Democrats". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Rudin, Ken (November 4, 2005). "Reading the Tea Leaves in the 2005 Elections". NPR. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Neuman, Johanna (November 5, 2005). "Bush Aid in Virginia Governor's Race Seen as GOP Gamble". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Shear, Michael D.; Jenkins, Chris L. (March 16, 2005). "Kaine Begins Bid for Governor". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 21, 2005.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c Shear, Michael D. (January 17, 2005). "Attorney General Kilgore to Resign". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Kilgore kicks off run for Virgina governor". TRIB LIVE. March 21, 2005. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Shear, Michael D. (February 8, 2005). "Mayor Enters GOP Race for Va. Governor". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Primary Election- June 14, 2005". Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ VA: Kaine 49% Kilgore 46% Archived 2005-11-06 at the Wayback Machine – Rasmussen Reports, November 4, 2005
- ^ Brodnitz, Pete. "Why Tim Kaine Won". www.bsgco.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ "Death penalty demagoguery" Deprecated link archived 2012-09-17 at archive.today. (October 13, 2005). The Roanoke Times.
- ^ "RealClear Politics – 2005 Virginia Gubernatorial Election". Retrieved November 4, 2005.
- ^ "Virginia governor's race a costly one", (October 31, 2005) USA Today
- ^ "No Death Penalty For Hitler? GOP Ad Goes Too Far - Factcheck.org". Archived from the original on November 29, 2006. Retrieved November 30, 2006.
- ^ Richmond Times-Dispatch, October 26, 2005
- ^ Kaine provides Clinton ticket with more lobbying, fundraising ties – UPI.com
- ^ "The 2005 Off-Off-Year Elections: Hardfast Harbinger or Harmless Happenstance? | Sabato's Crystal Ball".
- ^ a b c d "Latest Polls: 2005 Virginia Governor". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll - Virginia". SurveyUSA. November 7, 2005. Archived from the original on February 16, 2006. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
- ^ "VA: Kaine 49% Kilgore 46%". Rasmussen Reports. November 2, 2005. Archived from the original on November 26, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2005.
- ^ "VA: Kaine 46% Kilgore 44%". Rasmussen Reports. October 27, 2005. Archived from the original on November 26, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "RC Poll: Kaine Jumps to Lead over Kilgore in Race for Governor; Lt. Governor contest very tight; Deeds trails McDonnell". Roanoke College. October 30, 2005. Archived from the original on June 12, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2005.
- ^ Shear, Michael D.; Deane, Claudia (October 30, 2005). "Kaine Inches Ahead In Va. Race, Poll Finds". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "VA: Kilgore 48% Kaine 46%". Rasmussen Reports. October 24, 2005. Archived from the original on January 1, 2006. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll - Virginia". SurveyUSA. October 17, 2005. Archived from the original on December 18, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "Diageo/Hotline Poll Of VA". The Hotline. October 18, 2005. Archived from the original on December 28, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2005.
- ^ "VA: Kilgore 46% Kaine 44%". Rasmussen Reports. October 12, 2005. Archived from the original on December 14, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "VA: Kilgore 45% Kaine 45%". Rasmussen Reports. September 30, 2005. Archived from the original on November 23, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll - Virginia". SurveyUSA. September 19, 2005. Archived from the original on December 13, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "VA: Kilgore 43% Kaine 40%". Rasmussen Reports. September 16, 2005. Archived from the original on November 23, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "Washington Post Poll 2005 Virginia Governor's Race" (PDF). The Washington Post. September 11, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll - Virginia". SurveyUSA. August 9, 2005. Archived from the original on December 13, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "VA: Kilgore 45% Kaine 39%". Rasmussen Reports. August 4, 2005. Archived from the original on December 13, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ Sluss, Michael (July 23, 2005). "Race for governor is even, poll says". Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on February 14, 2026. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "VA: Kilgore 47% Kaine 41%". Rasmussen Reports. July 14, 2005. Archived from the original on December 25, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll - Virginia". SurveyUSA. June 30, 2005. Archived from the original on December 13, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "VA: Kilgore 46% Kaine 40%". Rasmussen Reports. June 16, 2005. Archived from the original on June 18, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll - Virginia". Survey USA. May 17, 2005. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "VA: Kilgore 44% Kaine 36%". Rasmussen Reports. April 16, 2005. Archived from the original on June 17, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ General Election- November 8, 2005
- ^ "Virginia Elections Database – 2005 Governor General Election". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
External links
- Official Results, Virginia State Board of Elections
Official campaign websites (archived)