Virginia gubernatorial election, 2005
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The Virginia gubernatorial election of 2005 was a race for the Governor of Virginia, United States, held on November 8, 2005, and won by Democrat Tim Kaine. Virginia is the only state in the United States to prohibit governors from serving successive terms, so the popular incumbent, Mark R. Warner, could not run for reelection.
The primary election was held on June 14, 2005. Tim Kaine was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, and Jerry Kilgore easily defeated George Fitch with 82.5% of the vote for the Republican nomination.
The general election itself 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, due in part to a series of gaffes by the Kilgore campaign.
Some of these gaffes included:
- A television commercial launched by Kilgore accusing Kaine of being so against capital punishment that he wouldn't have executed Adolf Hitler or Saddam Hussein.
- A gaffe by Kilgore during a debate in which he refused to give a straight answer on whether he would sign a law banning abortion if Roe v. Wade was over-turned.
- Trying to back out of an October 9, 2005 debate that he previously agreed to with Kaine.
The final results of the election were 51.72% for Kaine, 45.99% for Kilgore, 2.22% for Potts, and 0.08% for other candidates.
The election was the most expensive in Virginia history, with the candidates combined raising over $42 million [1].
Contents |
[edit] Candidates
[edit] Democrats
- Tim Kaine - Lieutenant Governor and former Richmond Mayor
[edit] Republicans
- Jerry Kilgore - former Attorney General (Kilgore resigned in February 2005 to campaign full-time)
[edit] Independents/minor parties
- Russ Potts - Republican state senator from Winchester running as an independent.
[edit] Former candidates (unsuccessful primary candidates)
[edit] Republicans
- George Fitch (Virginia) - Mayor of Warrenton
[edit] Opinion polls
| Source | Date | Kaine (D) | Kilgore (R) | Potts (I) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survey USA | November 7, 2005 | 50% | 45% | 4% |
| Mason-Dixon | November 4, 2005 | 45% | 44% | 4% |
| Rasmussen | November 4, 2005 | 49% | 46% | 2% |
| Roanoke College | November 2, 2005 | 44% | 36% | 5% |
| Washington Post | October 30, 2005 | 47% | 44% | 4% |
| Rasmussen | October 28, 2005 | 46% | 44% | 4% |
| Mason-Dixon | October 25, 2005 | 42% | 44% | 5% |
| Rasmussen | October 24, 2005 | 46% | 48% | 2% |
| Hotline | October 18, 2005 | 40% | 38% | 5% |
| Survey USA | October 17, 2005 | 47% | 45% | 4% |
| Rasmussen | October 12, 2005 | 44% | 46% | 1% |
| Rasmussen | September 28, 2005 | 45% | 45% | 5% |
| Survey USA | September 19, 2005 | 43% | 46% | 4% |
| Mason-Dixon | September 18, 2005 | 40% | 41% | 6% |
| Rasmussen | September 16, 2005 | 40% | 43% | 5% |
| Survey USA | August 9, 2005 | 43% | 48% | 3% |
| Rasmussen | August 4, 2005 | 39% | 45% | 5% |
| Mason-Dixon | July 24, 2005 | 38% | 37% | 9% |
| Rasmussen | July 14, 2005 | 41% | 47% | 4% |
| Survey USA | June 30, 2005 | 39% | 49% | 5% |
| Rasmussen | June 16, 2005 | 40% | 46% | 2% |
| Survey USA | May 17, 2005 | 40% | 44% | 5% |
[edit] Results
Official results from the State Board of Elections:
| Virginia Gubernatorial Election, 2005 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Tim Kaine | 1,025,942 | 51.72 | -0.4 | |
| Republican | Jerry Kilgore | 912,327 | 45.99 | -1.0 | |
| Independent | Russ Potts | 43,953 | 2.22 | N/A | |
| None | Write-Ins | 1,556 | 0.08 | +0.1 | |
| Majority | 113,615 | 5.73 | +0.6 | ||
| Turnout | 1,983,778 | 44.96 | -1.4 | ||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
