WASHINGTON — Voters in Arlington County stuck with Board Chair Libby Garvey, who survived a primary challenge Tuesday.
She garnered 55 percent of the vote, while Planning Commission member Erik Gutshall got 45 percent, according to unofficial results.
Garvey joined the board in 2012 after serving on the county’s school board for 15 years. But she drew the ire of Democrats two years ago with her opposition to the proposed streetcar line and for supporting Republican-turned-independent John Vihstadt, who now serves on the board.
Growing school enrollment, tax exemptions for seniors and affordable housing funding were all issues in the campaign.
Garvey will face independent candidate Audrey Clement in November.
Eleven percent of eligible voters participated in Tuesday’s contest, Arlington County reported.
House races
Elsewhere in Virginia, Rep. Randy Forbes took a chance by running in a new district after his was redrawn as part of a court challenge. But the gamble didn’t pay off with Tidewater-area voters who were unfamiliar with him.
State Del. Scott Taylor, of Virginia Beach, handily beat Forbes winning 52 percent of the vote in the 2nd District Republican primary.
Taylor will face Democrat Shaun Brown in November.
Forbes’ district was redrawn after the federal courts found that Virginia lawmakers illegally packed black voters into the nearby 3rd District in order to make neighboring districts safer for Republican incumbents.
The eight-term congressman decided to run in the 2nd District instead of his redrawn 4th District, which now stretches from Eastern Henrico County to the North Carolina line.
Forbes issued a statement conceding the race:
“We have had a vision for this region, for rebuilding our military, and for defending religious liberty, and while perhaps not embraced by voters tonight, we hope nonetheless will be the path forward for our nation and our region.”
Taylor cast himself as a Washington outsider while Forbes played up his seniority on House budget matters, especially defense spending, a critical issue for an area that is home to the largest naval base in the world, The Associated Press reported.
The congressional map changes and Forbes’ decision to not run for his current district created an open House seat and four contenders ran in the 4th District primaries.
State Sen. Don McEachin, a Democrat, will face Henrico County Sheriff Mike Wade, a Republican, for the chance to represent the new district in November.
Northern Virginia’s four members of Congress faced no primary season challengers and will all advance to the fall ballot.
All results are unofficial until certified by the State Board of Elections.
*denotes incumbent
Arlington County
County Board At-Large — Democrats (52 of 52 precincts reporting)
Erik Gutshall — 45 percent
Libby Garvey * — 55 percent (Winner)
Congressional Races
District 2 — Republicans (180 of 180 precincts reporting)
Pat Cardwell — 7 percent
Randy Forbes — 40.6 percent
Scott Taylor — 52.5 percent (Winner)
District 4 — Democrats (259 of 259 precincts reporting)
Donald McEachin — 75 percent (Winner)
Ella Ward — 25 percent
District 4 — Republicans (259 of 259 precincts reporting)
Mike Wade — 64 percent (Winner)
Jackee Gonzalez — 36 percent
District 6 — Republicans (244 of 244 precincts reporting)
Bob Goodlatte* — 78 percent — (Winner)
Harry Griego — 22 percent
