By Staff Reports
Voters in Patrick County heavily favored GOP candidates in the Tuesday election, according to unofficial results from Patrick County Registrar Susan Taylor.
In the gubernatorial contest, Republican Glenn Youngkin won 5,942 of the 7,227 votes cast in the contest. Democrat Terry McAuliffe received 1,247 votes, and Libertarian candidate Princess Blanding garnered 32 of the ballots cast in the race, with six write-ins.
The number of registered voters in Patrick County is 12,617, according to unofficial results.
GOP candidate Winsome Sears won the highest number of votes in Patrick, according to unofficial results.
Sears received 5,887 votes compared to Democrat Hala Ayala, with 1,286 ballots for the Lt. Governor post. There were four write-ins, for a total of 7,177 ballots cast in the race.
Democrat and incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring lost his reelection bid among Patrick voters, with 1,343 votes compared to the 5,851 ballots cast for GOP challenger Jason Miyares. Four write-in ballots were reported, according to unofficial results, with 7,198 total ballots cast in the race.
After a landslide victory in the contest for the Ninth District House of Delegates, Wren Williams said he was overwhelmed.
“I am humbled to receive the support of Virginia’s 9th House District. It is an even greater honor to be granted the opportunity to represent them in Richmond,” Williams said. “It has been a privilege to campaign across the district and hear from thousands of residents about their needs and the issues they care about.
Williams, R-Stuart, won 5,842 of the ballots compared to his opponent, Democrat Bridgette Craighead’s 1,259, according to unofficial results. There also were 30 write-ins, for a total of 7,131 ballots cast in the race.
“I was not expecting such a large win,” Williams said. I want to thank Delegate Charles Poindexter for his years of service to this community, and Ms. Bridgette Craighead for running in this race as well.”
Williams bested Poindexter, a 14-year incumbent, during a June primary, but started campaigning in February.
“I jumped into this race because many people felt they had no strong voice for them in Richmond. Liberals in Northern Virginia have been running the whole state on their terms, with no regard for our livelihood and conservative values. They have pushed Critical Race Theory on our kids, tried to pass laws infringing the 2nd Amendment, and left our election laws ripe for abuse. It will be my honor to fight for Southside and Southwest Virginia, and be a strong voice for our conservative values,” Williams said.
With the conclusion of the election, Williams said he plans to take some time away from politics before the start of his term in January.
Additionally, “I have to start working with the House caucus to form our party’s leadership. I also plan on reading our house rules” to get a better understanding of the procedures, he said, while attending a watch and victory party at the Spencer-Penn Centre on Tuesday.
“I want to thank God for his grace in everything. I also want to thank my amazing wife, Britt, and my family. I could not be here today without their support. I also would not be here without the thousands of volunteers and donors who supported us over the finish line – thank you,” Williams said.
Doug Perry, who was the only candidate for the Smith River District of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors, said that he was not surprised since he was unopposed.
“It’s just waiting to hear the results of the other elections and finding out who my teammates are going to be,” he said. “It’s not an individual thing, it’s a collaborative effort for the county.”
Perry garnered 1,250 of the 1,267 votes cast in the race. The remaining 17 votes were write-in candidates, according to unofficial results.
Perry added that he is glad that elections are over, and noted that it is “now time to get to work.”
Walter Scott, who won his reelection bid for the Smith River District seat on the Patrick County School Board, said he was surprised by the victory because the race between him and opponent Caroline Jones was close.
“A real nail biter,” he said.
Scott won with 765 votes, compared to the 678 cast for Jones, according to unofficial results. Eight ballots included the names of write-in candidates, for a total of 1,451 votes cast in the contest.
Scott thanked those who supported him during the campaign and those who chose to vote for him.
“I will continue to work to improve our education system,” he said, adding the campaign and his reelection was possible due to “a team effort.”
He also said he appreciated that his opponent ran “a clean race and did not throw dirt around like so many other elections have done in the past.”
Brandon Simmons, the lone contender for the Dan River District seat on the Patrick County Board of Supervisors, said he felt happy about the victory.
“I want to thank everyone for the votes and the support,” Simmons said. “Even though I was unopposed in my election bid, people did not have to take the time and fill out the ballot for me.”
Simmons garnered 1,040 of the 1,056 ballots cast in the contest. Sixteen of the ballots were write-ins.
Simmons, who served previously on the Patrick County School Board, said he is now looking forward to working with this “new” board to address the issues in Patrick County.
Absentee ballots may be accepted until noon on November 5, according to the state Board of Elections. Therefore, results are incomplete. Results will be certified on November 15.
