(Updated at 10:25 p.m.)
Republican Mark Kelly won three Arlington precincts, out of 51, in his race against incumbent county board member Chris Zimmerman.
Kelly won a plurality in Crystal City and Aurora Hills, where he lives. He won a majority in the Madison/Old Glebe neighborhood in North Arlington.
With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Zimmerman has 57 percent of the vote to Kelly’s 36 percent and Green Party candidate Kevin Chisholm’s 6 percent.
“It’s still an uphill climb here in Arlington,” Kelly said earlier tonight. “I thought we ran a great campaign. People saw the Republican party out there… we made a good case as to why we should have at least one seat on the board.”
(Updated at 10:05 p.m.)
The Murray party at Bailey’s in Ballston is surprisingly large for the 8th District. That fact, and the national Republican victories splashed across Fox News, is helping to keep the mood light despite Murray’s sound defeat at the hands of incumbent congressman Jim Moran.
Only about half the crowd has left, and periodic cheers are filling the dimly lit room.
Murray is warmly greeting supporters. He says he was hoping for a closer result in Arlington and Alexandria, but he’s still smiling.
“We ran a great race, the best race that has ever been mounted against Jim Moran,” Murray said. “It’s just a very tough district. I’m very happy with the effort we put out there.”
A close Murray aide summed it up with a football analogy.
“We left it all on the field,” he said.
What’s next for Murray?
“Sleep,” he says. “I just want to take some time to rehash this and thank a lot of people.”
(Updated at 9:30 p.m.)
Chris Zimmerman is speaking after a brief victory speech by re-elected school board member Sally Baird.
Zimmerman is thanking those who worked on his campaign and all fellow Arlington Democrats.
“For this great opportunity you have given me, you have my deepest gratitude,” he said. “Arlington is a great community, and together we are making it even better”
(Updated at 9:10 p.m.)
With 89 percent of Arlington precincts reporting, current numbers from the Virginia State Board of Elections show Democrats Chris Zimmerman and Sally Baird winning the county and school board races. All four bond issues will likely pass.
“We worked this place,” Arlington County Democratic Committe Chair Mike Lieberman tells the large crowd at the Westin in Ballston.
(Updated at 9:00 p.m.)
Rep. Jim Moran is on stage at the Arlington Democratic party in Ballston.
“It appears pretty clear that we will have won tonight,” he said. “But the victory is bittersweet — this is going to be a tough night for Democrats nationally.”
“We’re going to work with the president to fight efforts to take this country backwards,” Moran added.
He said Murray’s “lack of civic involvement” and “extremist Tea Party views” were his downfall.
Moran’s daughter and campaign manager, Mary, was not as reserved about the results.
“Dad’s too classy to say this, but it looks like we trounced this guy,” she said of the congress’s apparent victory over Republican Patrick Murray.
With 74 percent of precincts reporting, Moran leads 61 percent to 37 percent over Murray.
