The 2013 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2013, to elect the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. The incumbent Lieutenant Governor, Republican Bill Bolling, had originally planned to run for Governor of Virginia in the 2013 gubernatorial election, but withdrew upon the entry of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...
2013 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election

 2009 November 5, 2013 (2013-11-05) 2017 
 
Nominee Ralph Northam E. W. Jackson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,213,155 980,257
Percentage 55.12% 44.54%

Northam:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Jackson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
     No votes

Lieutenant Governor before election

Bill Bolling
Republican

Elected Lieutenant Governor

Ralph Northam
Democratic

Close

On May 18, 2013, a Republican state convention in Richmond nominated minister and conservative activist E.W. Jackson over six others after four ballots. The Democratic primary on June 11, 2013, was won by State Senator Ralph Northam, who defeated Aneesh Chopra, former Chief Technology Officer of the United States.[1] Northam then defeated Jackson by a wide margin in the general election.[2]

As the Senate of Virginia was evenly split between 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans, the lieutenant gubernatorial election effectively decided which party had control of that chamber.

Background

In early 2008, Bolling and then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell struck a deal in which Bolling agreed to run for re-election as lieutenant governor to allow McDonnell to run unopposed for governor in 2009, in exchange for McDonnell's support for Bolling for governor in 2013.[3] The deal was widely known and as such, Bolling was effectively running for governor since 2009,[4] and in April 2010, Bolling filed the necessary paperwork to run in 2013.[5] Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, elected alongside McDonnell and Bolling in 2009, stated that he intended to run for re-election as attorney general in 2013, but did not rule out running for governor.[6] In December 2011, Cuccinelli announced to his staff that he would run against Bolling for governor in 2013; the news went public, and in response, Bolling issued a statement accusing Cuccinelli of putting "his own personal ambition ahead of the best interests of the commonwealth and the Republican Party."[7] Cuccinelli's announcement came two days before the annual statewide conference of Virginia Republicans, at which Bolling and his staff expressed being upset with Cuccinelli's decision.[8]

Bolling, who was polling poorly against Cuccinelli, withdrew from the race on November 28, 2012. He cited the Republican Party's decision to move to a nominating convention rather than hold a primary. He ruled out running for another term as lieutenant governor and refused to endorse Cuccinelli.[9]

Republican nomination

The Republican Party chose its nominee at a convention in Richmond. Seven candidates were running, and after four rounds of balloting, E.W. Jackson was chosen as the nominee.

Candidates

Nominated at convention

Defeated at convention

Declined

Democratic primary

The Virginia Democratic primary was held on June 11, 2013.[15] Ralph Northam was chosen as the nominee.

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Aneesh
Chopra
Ralph
Northam
Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[19] May 24–26, 2013 322 ± 5.5% 27% 18% 54%
Close

Results

Thumb
Results by county:
Northam
  •   Northam—90-100%
  •   Northam—80-90%
  •   Northam—70-80%
  •   Northam—60-70%
  •   Northam—50-60%
Tie
  •   Tie
Chopra
  •   Chopra—50–60%
  •   Chopra—60–70%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Virginia Lieutenant Governor Democratic primary, 2013[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ralph Northam 78,337 54.24%
Democratic Aneesh Chopra 66,098 45.76%
Majority 12,239 8.47%
Turnout 144,435
Close

General election

September debate

The two candidates met in a debate held in Arlington on September 24, 2013. The debate was marked by sharp contrasts between the candidates on both issues and style. Northam was the aggressor in the debate, attacking Jackson over his controversial statements and personal history.[21]

In response to repeated attacks from Northam on Jackson's history of controversial statements, Jackson read aloud a section of the Virginia Constitution that differentiates social opinions from one's ability to govern.[22] Jackson said, "I know the difference between what I do [in church] and what I'm required to do here. ... If I'm elected, I'm going to serve all the people of Virginia regardless of what their religious background is. ... I'm not running to be preacher, theologian, bishop, pastor of Virginia. I'm running to be lieutenant governor of Virginia."[23][24]

Northam spoke at length on abortion, saying regulations and laws on abortion recently passed by the General Assembly represented "an assault on women's reproductive health care," and attacked Jackson for his support of those regulations and laws.[21] Jackson responded simply, "I am unabashedly pro-life. I make no apologies for that."[21]

Jackson said he opposed a Medicaid expansion in Virginia, saying it would saddle Virginia with debt.[21] Northam said he supported the expansion because if Virginia rejected it, the taxes it pays to the federal government would go to other states.[21]

Both candidates sought to speak more personally about themselves. Northam talked about his career in the military and medicine, while Jackson talked about getting through a rough childhood to attend Harvard Law School and eventually entering ministry.[22]

Endorsements

E.W. Jackson

Current and former politicians

  • Tony Wilt, Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates[25]

Organizations

Others

Ralph Northam

Current and former politicians

Organizations

Newspapers

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[40] Safe D (flip) October 24, 2013
Close

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
E.W.
Jackson (R)
Ralph
Northam (D)
Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[41] November 2–3, 2013 870 ± 3.3% 39% 52% 9%
Christopher Newport University[42] October 25–30, 2013 1,038 ± 3% 35% 51% 15%
Hampton University[43] October 24, 26–27, 2013 800 ± 2.9% 37% 43% 20%
Washington Post/Abt SRBI[44] October 24–27, 2013 762 ± 4.5% 39% 52% 9%
Roanoke College[45] October 21–27, 2013 838 ± 3.4% 32% 48% 21%
NBC News/Marist[46] October 13–15, 2013 596 ± 4% 42% 48% 1% 9%
Watson Center/CNU[47] October 8–13, 2013 753 ± 3.6% 39% 51% 10%
Watson Center/CNU[48] October 1–6, 2013 886 ± 3.1% 37% 48% 16%
Roanoke College[49] September 30 – October 5, 2013 1,046 ± 3% 35% 39% 26%
Hampton University[50] September 25–29, 2013 800 ± 2.9% 39% 38% 23%
University of Mary Washington[51] September 25–29, 2013 559 ± 4.7% 35% 39% 7% 18%
Washington Post/Abt SRBI[52] September 19–22, 2013 562 ± 5% 42% 45% 14%
Conquest Communications[53] September 19, 2013 400 ± 5% 29% 31% 40%
NBC/Marist[54] September 17–19, 2013 546 ± 3% 41% 44% 15%
Roanoke College[55] September 9–15, 2013 874 ± 3.3% 30% 34% 33%
Public Policy Polling[56] July 11–14, 2013 601 ± 4% 35% 42% 23%
Roanoke College[57] July 8–14, 2013 525 ± 4.3% 28% 30% 41%
Public Policy Polling[19] May 24–26, 2013 672 ± 3.8% 29% 35% 36%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
E.W.
Jackson (R)
Aneesh
Chopra (D)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling[19] May 24–26, 2013 672 ± 3.8% 29% 36% 35%
Close
Hypothetical polling

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2013[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ralph Northam 1,213,155 55.12% +11.72
Republican E. W. Jackson 980,257 44.54% −11.97
Write-in 7,472 0.34% +0.26
Majority 232,898 10.58%
Turnout 2,200,884
Democratic gain from Republican Swing
Close

By congressional district

Northam won 7 of 11 congressional districts, including four held by Republicans.[59]

More information District, Jackson ...
District Jackson Northam Representative
1st 51% 49% Rob Wittman
2nd 43% 57% Scott Rigell
3rd 20% 80% Robert C. Scott
4th 47% 53% Randy Forbes
5th 51% 49% Robert Hurt
6th 58% 42% Bob Goodlatte
7th 49% 51% Eric Cantor
8th 27% 73% Jim Moran
9th 61% 39% Morgan Griffith
10th 48% 52% Frank Wolf
11th 35% 65% Gerry Connolly
Close

See also

References

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