Politics & Government

Connolly Wins Second Term in Congress

Democrat says close margin won't affect how he votes

Shortly after the  of his rival in the 11th District Congressional race, Keith Fimian, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D) met with reporters in his Annandale office earlier today.

Seemingly showing no effects of a weekend hospital visit, the now-second term congressman spoke about the rematch with Fimian, whom he defeated by 12 points in 2008. In an election decided by less than a half a percentage point (49.22 to 48.79), Connolly bristled at the notion he had barely survived the tidal wave of support that turned control of the House of Representatives over to Republicans.

"In the worst environment in 64 years for Democrats, when trees were falling all around, I won," Connolly said. "I like to think that's because of the relationships I have with my constituents. Developing those relationships is not an overnight thing. That's what public service is all about."

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In explaining his slim victory in a swing district, Connolly emphasized the dynamic nature of the electorate. "You had half the people who voted in 2008 and who will probably vote in the next election," he said.

With that in mind, Connolly said the closeness of the margin will have no impact on how he votes. "I got elected for my judgment. I'm not afraid to cast an unpopular vote. Running away from your positions is no way to win an election."

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While the economy was certainly the No. 1 issue on voters' minds—Connolly reaffirmed his commitment to lowering the deficit—it was gun control that some believe turned the election in Connolly's favor.

Shortly before the election, remarks Fimian had made much earlier about the Virginia Tech 2007 shooting resurfaced. Fimian eventually apologized for saying some of the victims should have been "packing heat," but the impact of his statements was unsettling to some.

"I believe those comment struck a chord with the electorate," Connolly said. "It gave great offense to people who were involved. It also underscored the fact that a lot of his views were far removed from the views of the electorate."

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, who lost to Fimian in the Republican primary earlier in the year, chose to focus on the larger picture. "We fired Nancy Pelosi, but this Republican is disappointed by the results of the 11th."

Stephen Farnsworth, assistant professor in the Department of Communication at George Mason University felt the message that motivated many voters to cast ballots in favor of the GOP in the rest of Virginia and nationwide did not carry as much weight in Northern Virginia.

"The tea party message is not nearly as appealing in a county where large numbers of people work for the federal government or are federal government contractors," Farnsworth said. "The federal government hits them and their pocketbook in a way that you wouldn't see in almost any other congressional district in the whole country. The tea party message is a hard sell in the Washington area. That was part of the reason Fimian lost."

Anthony Bedell, chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee, said he doesn't think the Fimian campaign did anything wrong, but that it's just difficult for a Republican to win in the county.

"Anytime a Republican is in an election in any part of the county, it's going to be a hard race," Bedell said. "And sometimes in those races you come up short."

But Fimian's political future does not have to end with this loss, he said.

"You don't get the amount of votes he received this year and raise the amount of money he raised, close to $3 million, and not have a political future," Bedell said. "And I think that's what he should take from this and decompress and think about it."


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