Despite the quake, primary elections went on yesterday in Virginia.
One of the most high-profile races was the three-way Democratic matchup in District 30 for state Senate. The district includes parts of Alexandria and Arlington.
Adam Ebbin won the nomination there, with 39 percent of the vote. Ebbin is currently the only openly gay member of the Virginia General Assembly. He defeated Alexandria councilman Rob Krupicka and Arlington school board member Libby Garvey in the primary contest. Ebbin will try to hold retiring Sen. Patricia Ticer's seat in heavily Democratic Alexandria.
Another closely-watched race: the Democratic state Senate primary in District 31, comprising of parts of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties. Longtime Arlington County Board member Barbara Favola defeated Jaime Ariezaga-Soto, taking 65-percent of the vote. Favola will attempt to keep retiring state Senator Mary Margaret Whipple's seat in Democratic hands.
Some controversy surrounded the race. Areizaga-Soto accused Favola of taking campaign contributions from companies with issues pending before the county board, a claim Favola denies. Favola conducted polling, in which those surveyed were falsely told Areizaga-Soto is a Republican. The poll was discontinued and the misinformation dismissed as a mistake.
On the GOP side, it was a night of political comebacks in District 36, which is made up of Prince William and Fairfax counties. Jeffrey Frederick got 69 percent of the vote, beating out Tito Munoz, who got 31 percent.
Tito ``The Builder'' Munoz, a Colombian immigrant and contractor running his first campaign, gained a nickname and fleeting fame from a cameo campaign appearance in 2008
alongside Sarah Palin. Frederick will challenge Democratic Sen. Linda ``Toddy'' Puller in November.
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Former state republican chairman Frederick will face off against veteran Democrat Lindy “Toddy” Puller in November.
And in Loudoun County, conservative former House member Dick Black won the GOP nomination in the 13th Senate District. He defeated Robert Fitzsimmonds and John Stirrup in his race for Richmond.
Virginia’s 2011 general election is scheduled for November 8.
