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On Election Day, Del. Jeannemarie Devolites (R-35) successfully made the jump from the House of the Delegates to the state Senate representing the 34th senate district.
Devolites is the winner in a race against Democrat Ronald F. "Ron" Christian, a minister, activist and first-time campaigner.
"I ran on my record," said Devolites at Republican festivities at the American Legion Hall in Springfield. "I worked hard and I knocked on thousands of doors."
Devolites said her first priority would be to continue working on technology and health care legislation.
She also plans to work toward eliminating the personal property tax on cars. “Income tax is fairer than property tax,” she said.
Unofficial results from the Virignia State Board of Elections showed that Devolites received 19,517 votes, or 52.82 percent of vote, while Christian received 17,433, or 47.18 percent. Voter turnout was at 32.10 percent.
With her win, Devolites will be the first Republican woman to serve in the state Senate.
U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-11), who contributed heavily to Devolites' race commented, "She crushed him in her old district."
Yet Christian proved to be a challenge to Devolites, surprising many by winning several precincts in the district.
"He ran an incredible campaign," said Braddock District Supervisor Sharon Bulova, who ran unopposed. "He really came a whole lot closer than anyone suspected he would."
"I came into this race as an underdog," said Christian. "And I am certainly underfunded but they underestimated me."