by Jackie Nunnery
KILMARNOCK—Another election season has come to a close, with Northern Neck residents selecting candidates from the highest state offices to local boards and councils. This November 4 Election Day saw Virginia elect its first female governor, Democrat Abigail D. Spanberger.
According to the Virginia Department of Elections unofficial results, in the race for governor, Spanberger won over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears with 1,919,380 votes (57.19%) to 1,429,807(42.61%) respectively.
The run for lieutenant governor also was won by a Democrat. Ghazala F. Hashmi won with 1,845,087 votes (55.28%), while Republican challenger John J. Reid II received 1,484,154 votes (44.47%).
In a close race for attorney general, Republican incumbent Jason S. Miyares lost to Democrat challenger Jay C. Jones, 1,554,832 votes (46.82%) to 1,752,448 (52.77%).
In the House of Delegates District 67 race, Republican incumbent Hillary Pugh Kent was a winner over Democrat challenger Mario D. Haggerty, receiving 24,185 votes (61.29%) versus 14,485 (36.71%). Independent Richard W. Kenski received 764 votes (1.94%).
Both Lancaster and Northumberland voted solidly Republican in this election, although slightly less so than the previous statewide race.
In Northumberland, Earle-Sears received 4,113 votes (60.49%) to Spanberger’s 2,671 votes (39.28%).
In Lancaster, Earle-Sears received 3,278 votes (54.56%) compared to Spanberger with 2,718 (45.24%).
In the race for lieutenant governor, Reid received 4,225 votes (62.53%) in Northumberland, beating challenger Hashmi who received 2,524 votes (37.35%).
Reid also won in Lancaster with 3,389 votes (56.74%) to Hashmi’s 2,571 (43.04%).
For attorney general, Northumberland chose Miyares over Jones with 4,335 votes (64.18%) versus 2,400 votes (35.53%). It was the same in Lancaster where Miyares received 3,472 votes (58.38%) while Jones received 2,453 votes (41.25%).
For the House of Delegates District 67 seat, Republican incumbent Hillary Pugh Kent received 4,377 votes (64.55%) in Northumberland while Democrat Haggerty received 2,281 votes (33.64%) and Independent Richard W. Kenski received 117 votes (1.73%). Pugh Kent also won in Lancaster, receiving 3,555 votes (59.5%) to Haggerty’s 2,337 (39.11%) and Kenski’s 78 (1.31%).
Northumberland results
Some 64% of voters turned out in the county, casting 6,832 ballots—46% early voting, 6% mail and 48% voting on Election Day.
A ballot initiative to change school board selection from a direct election to an appointment by the board of supervisors was soundly rejected by voters, with 4,243 (63.92%) voting against the change and 2,395 (36.08%) voting in favor.
Seats were up for election for the board of supervisors and school board in Districts 2 and 3. In the District 2 board of supervisors race, challenger B. Keith Harris unseated incumbent Richard F. Haynie with 751 votes (60.27%) versus 488 votes (39.17%) respectively. There were seven write-in votes.
Incumbent Cheryl Brown Davis retained the District 2 school board seat with 991 votes (94.83%). There were 54 write-in votes (5.17%).
In District 3, incumbent supervisor James M. Long ran unopposed, receiving 720 votes (84.91%) while write-in candidates received 128 votes (15.09%).
For school board, Carolyn A. Crockett ran unopposed, receiving 812 votes (95.08%) while write-in candidates received 42 votes.
Lancaster results
Some 63% of voters turned out in the county, casting 6,030 ballots—41% early voting, 6% mail and 53% voting on Election Day. Seats up for election for the board of supervisors and school board in Districts 1 and 5.
All incumbents ran unopposed and were reelected. In District 1, supervisor Craig H. Giese received 1,000 votes (98.33%) with 17 write-in votes (1.67%) and school board member C. Faith Kemp received 1,010 votes (98.34%) with 17 write-in votes (1.66%).
In District 5, supervisor William C. “Bill” Smith received 1,171 votes (97.42%) with 31 write-in votes (2.58%) and school board member Margaret E. Socey received 1,145 votes (97.86%) with 25 write-in votes (2.14%).
In a special election, Elizabeth W. “Beth” Cornwell was elected Commissioner of the Revenue for term ending December 31, 2027. Cornwell was appointed to the post in early 2025 on the retirement of Marlon Savoy. She received 5,215 votes (98.83%) and there were 62 write-in votes (1.17%).
Town elections
Two special elections were held for town council seats with terms ending December 31, 2026, In Irvington, Samantha C. Van Saun ran unopposed and received 241 votes (89.26%) with 29 write-in votes (10.74%).
In Kilmarnock Matthew A. Cunningham also ran unopposed, receiving 550 votes (97%) with 17 write-in votes (3%). Cunningham also received 22 votes from Northumberland County in the split precinct.
