2013 Virginia Attorney General election

{{Main|2013 Republican Party of Virginia convention}}

• Mark Obenshain, state senator{{cite web|url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/obenshain-announces-interest-in-attorney-general-seat/article_c46855df-f094-575a-b8a0-6892cc842ceb.html|title=Obenshain announces interest in attorney general seat|date=December 3, 2011|access-date=October 21, 2012|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|first=Jim|last=Nolan}}

• Rob Bell, state delegate

• John Frey, Fairfax County Clerk of the Circuit Court{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/republican-john-frey-withdrawing-from-virginias-attorney-general-race/2012/11/27/cf6a80bc-388f-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_story.html|title=Republican John Frey withdrawing from Virginia’s attorney general race|date=November 27, 2012|access-date=November 28, 2012|work=The Washington Post}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

• Justin Fairfax, former Assistant United States Attorney{{cite web|url=https://www.dailypress.com/2012/09/14/3rd-dem-enters-2013-ag-race/|title=3rd Dem enters 2013 A.G. race|date=September 14, 2012|access-date=October 21, 2012|work=The Daily Press|first=Todd Allen|last=Wilson}}
• Mark Herring, state senator{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-politics/post/sen-mark-herring-to-run-for-attorney-general-in-2013/2012/07/24/gJQAbHet6W_blog.html |title= Sen. Mark Herring to run for attorney general in 2013 |first= Anita |last= Kumar |work= The Washington Post |date= July 24, 2012 |access-date= July 24, 2012}}

• Michael Signer, attorney and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2009{{cite news |url=http://hamptonroads.com/2012/11/signer-d-declines-ag-bid-endorses-herring|title=Signer (D) declines AG bid, endorses Herring|first= Julian |last= Walker |work= The Virginian-Pilot|date=November 15, 2012 |access-date=November 28, 2012}}

• Ward Armstrong, former Minority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates{{cite web|url=http://blogs.roanoke.com/politics/2012/12/03/former-del-ward-armstrong-wont-run-statewide-in-2013/|title=Former Del. Ward Armstrong won't run statewide in 2013|date=December 3, 2012|access-date=December 23, 2012|work=The Roanoke Times|first=Michael|last=Sluss}}

[[File:Virginia Democratic attorney general primary results by county, 2013.svg|thumb|Results by county:

{{collapsible list

|title = Herring

|{{legend|#aa0000ff|Herring—80–90%}}

|{{legend|#d72f30|Herring—70–80%}}

|{{legend|#d75d5d|Herring—60–70%}}

|{{legend|#e27f7f|Herring—50–60%}}

}}

{{collapsible list

|title = Tie

|{{legend|#656565|Tie}}

}}

{{collapsible list

|title = Fairfax

|{{legend|#ABE098|Fairfax—50–60%}}

|{{legend|#83D475|Fairfax—60–70%}}

|{{legend|#57C84D|Fairfax—70–80%}}

|{{legend|#2EB62C|Fairfax—80–90%}}

}}

]]

{{Election box begin | title=Virginia Attorney General Democratic primary, 2013{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=695878 |title=Race details at |publisher=Ourcampaigns.com |access-date=2013-11-16}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Mark Herring

|votes = 72,861

|percentage = 51.66%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Justin Fairfax

|votes = 68,177

|percentage = 48.34%

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 4,684

|percentage = 3.32%

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 141,038

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Endorsements box

|title=Mark Herring (D)

|list=

Current and former statewide politicians

Newspapers

• The Virginian-Pilot[http://hamptonroads.com/2013/09/herring-attorney-general Herring for attorney general] The Virginian Pilot September 10, 2013
• The Washington Post[https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/virginia-endorsements-ralph-northam-and-mark-herring/2013/10/15/5b78bf72-35c1-11e3-80c6-7e6dd8d22d8f_story.html Virginia endorsements: Ralph Northam and Mark Herring] The Washington Post October 15, 2013

Organizations

• Virginia Police Benevolent Association{{cite web|url=https://www.sspba.org/gen/articles/The_Virginia_Police_Benevolent_Association_announces_endorsement_of_Mark_Herring_for_Attorney_General_414.jsp |title=The Virginia Police Benevolent Association announces endorsement of Mark Herring for Attorney General |publisher=Sspba.org |date=2013-08-30 |access-date=2013-11-16}}

}}

{{Endorsements box

|title=Mark Obenshain (R)

|list=

Elected Officials

• Bill Chase, independent Culpeper County Supervisor[http://www.dailyprogress.com/starexponent/news/local_news/chase-endorses-obenshain/article_b4ba055e-2e24-11e3-b3fb-001a4bcf6878.html Chase endorses Obenshain] Star-Exponent October 5, 2013
• Marty Williams, former Republican state senator[https://www.dailypress.com/2013/09/10/mark-obenshain-snags-endorsement-of-former-newport-news-senator-marty-williams/ Mark Obenshain snags endorsement of former Newport News senator Marty Williams] Daily Press September 10, 2013

Others

• John Brownlee, former United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia and 2009 candidate for the Republican nomination for Attorney General[http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/obenshain-endorsed-former-ag-candidate Obenshain endorsed by former AG candidate] PilotOnline.com February 15, 2013

Newspapers

• Richmond Times-Dispatch[http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/our-opinion/editorial-obenshain-for-ag/article_41935ad2-baa0-5c9d-9d1b-24b08d9e8caf.html Editorial: Obenshain for AG] Richmond Times-Dispatch October 20, 2013
• The Roanoke Times[http://www.roanoke.com/opinion/editorial/2332392-12/for-attorney-generalobenshain.html For attorney general: Obenshain] The Richmond Times October 30, 2013

Organizations

• Virginia Fraternal Order of Police[http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/their-opinion/columnists-blogs/guest-columnists/obenshain-the-experience-to-solve-problems/article_785e20d0-7c08-5330-b399-a9e9f4d2cb1c.html Obenshain: The experience to solve problems] Richmond Times-Dispatch October 24, 2013

}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=Hypothetical polling|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

{{hidden end}}

{{Election box begin | title=Virginia Attorney General election, 2013}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Mark Herring

|votes = 1,103,777

|percentage = 49.89%

|change = +7.60%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Mark Obenshain

|votes = 1,103,612

|percentage = 49.88%

|change = -7.63%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link|

|votes = 4,892

|percentage = 0.22%

|change = +0.13%

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 165

|percentage = 0.01%

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 2,212,281

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

|loser = Republican Party (United States)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

It was widely reported that a recount was expected after the results were certified on November 25, 2013. According to the Virginia Board of Elections rules, as updated for the November 2013 election: "there are no automatic recounts. Only an apparent losing candidate can ask for a recount, and only if the difference between the apparent winning candidate and that apparent losing candidates is not more than one percent (1%) of the total votes cast for those two candidates."{{cite web |url=http://sbe.virginia.gov/Files/ElectionAdministration/ElectionLaw/Virginia_Election_Recounts_Contests.pdf |title=Commonwealth of Virginia State Board of Elections. Virginia Election Recounts and Contests -- The Basics |access-date=November 15, 2013 |date=November 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021131/http://sbe.virginia.gov/Files/ElectionAdministration/ElectionLaw/Virginia_Election_Recounts_Contests.pdf |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} This race is the second of the past three Virginia attorney general elections to go to a recount. In the 2005 race, Bob McDonnell won by 360 votes, with the result certified in December.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/obenshain-herring-in-dead-heat-in-virginia-attorney-generals-race-recount-expected/2013/11/06/f3d49976-46b0-11e3-b6f8-3782ff6cb769_story.html|agency=The Washington Post|title=Herring, Obenshain may face recount in Va. AG’s race; December outcome likely|date=November 6, 2013|access-date=November 8, 2013}}

{{Election box begin | title=Virginia Attorney General election, 2013}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Mark Herring

|votes = 1,105,045

|percentage = 49.91%

|change = +7.62%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Mark Obenshain

|votes = 1,104,138

|percentage = 49.87%

|change = -7.64%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link|

|votes = 4,892

|percentage = 0.22%

|change = +0.13%

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 907

|percentage = 0.04%

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 2,214,075

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

|loser = Republican Party (United States)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

Despite losing the state, Obenshain won 7 of 11 congressional districts, while Herring won 4, including one held by a Republican.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2013/07/09/1220127/-Daily-Kos-Elections-2012-election-results-by-congressional-and-legislative-districts|title=Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts|website=Daily Kos|access-date=13 July 2024}}

{{Portal|Politics|Virginia}}

• 2013 Virginia elections
• 2013 Virginia gubernatorial election
• 2013 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election
• 2013 United States gubernatorial elections

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Category:2013 Virginia elections

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