The race for Loudoun County’s top prosecutor is still too close to call, but incumbent Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj is trailing challenger Bob Anderson by around 1,000 votes, according to vote totals Wednesday, the day after Virginians went to the polls.
Anderson’s narrow lead comes as late-arriving mailed ballots and provisional ballots are still being tallied, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. He has 66,835 votes while Biberaj is close behind with 65,814 votes, as of 9 p.m.
Anderson held the commonwealth attorney’s post in Loudoun more than 20 years ago. Though the race has yet to be called, he’s already declared victory.
The people of Loudoun Co have spoken and last night they chose Bob Anderson as their next Commonwealth’s Attorney.
As of now, all mailed in, early voting, and day of ballots of voters that have been cast have been counted. There are no outstanding ballots at this moment.— Bob Anderson For Lo Co Commonwealth Attorney (@bobanderson4ca) November 8, 2023
“There is no current path to victory for Buta Biberaj and we look forward to waiting for the due process to run course. I am confident the results will remain the same, and look forward to serving as your next Commonwealth’s Attorney,” he wrote in a social media post.
Late Tuesday night, Biberaj released a statement about the results that indicated she wasn’t conceding the election.
“Thank you to the many Loudoun County residents who came out to vote today in important elections up and down the ballot. Our race is too-close-to-call, with several precincts left to count, as well as more mail in votes and provisional ballots. I look forward to the Loudoun County election canvass starting tomorrow to ensure that every vote is counted in this close race.”
Biberaj won 60% of the mail in ballots received by Election Day. It isn’t known how many mail-in ballots have yet to be counted.
Biberaj has faced criticism — including within her own party — over her management of the office and the handling of two sexual assaults at two different high schools in 2021.
Though the outcome in the Loudoun County race isn’t clear, decisive victories for Democrats throughout the state Tuesday led the party to gain control of the general assembly.
More Virginia Election 2023 coverage
- 2023 Virginia Local General Election Results
- 2023 Virginia General Election Results (Live Updates)
- Democrats sweep Virginia elections to take control of general assembly
Fairfax County results
In Fairfax County, the incumbent candidate in the commonwealth attorney’s race prevailed but a sizable number of voters chose to write in a candidate, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. Steve Descano won 76.93% of the vote and 23.07% of the votes went to a write-in candidate.
A Fairfax County School Board candidate who was disqualified weeks before Election Day and later put back on the ballot was elected in the Franconia District. Marcia C. St. John-Cunning came away with 61.33% of the vote; her opponent Kevin R. Pinkney fell behind with 33.38%, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.
A circuit court judge’s order invalidated some of the signatures St. John-Cunning’s campaign had gathered to support her candidacy, because some of the paperwork did not properly list her address. The Fairfax County Office of Elections “requalified” St. John-Cunning after a new ruling last week.
An incumbent sheriff in Culpeper County lost his reelection bid after being indicted on federal bribery charges last summer.
Sheriff Scott Jenkins won just 20.16% of the vote and was beat out by Timothy Chilton who led with 55.38% of the vote, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.
Federal prosecutors allege Jenkins handed out auxiliary deputy sheriff’s appointments in exchange for cash bribes and donations to his campaign. He accepted bribes totaling at least $72,500.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
