June 14, 2005 [LINK]
Voter turnout in today's primary elections in Virginia was less than 4% for the Republican side, and less than 3% for the Democrat side. As expected, GOP gubenatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore won easily over self-styled "real Reaganite" George Fitch, 82% to 18%. In the race for lieutenant governor, Bill Bolling beat Sean Connaughton, 55% to 45%, and in the race for attorney general, Bob McDonnell beat Steve Baril by a 68% to 32% margin. In the only statewide race for the Democrats, Leslie Byrne, a sharp-tongued former member of Congress from Northern Virginia prevailed over three other candidates in the race for lieutenant governor. These results are not yet official. For the latest updates, see the Virginia State Board of Elections. Many people believe that Virginia's odd custom of holding state elections in the off years was deliberately intended to "weed out" less-attentive voters who show up for presidential or congressional elections but don't really follow state politics closely enough to make an informed decision. It's working.