Plum, Howell Lead Incumbents Back Into Office

Sen. Janet Howell and Del. Ken Plum were easily re-elected to their Virginia General Assembly seats on Tuesday, leading a Democratic sweep in Reston-area elections.

Howell, representing the 32nd District since 1992, defeated Republican challenger Patrick Forrest by a margin of nearly 20 percent (as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, with 52 percent of precincts reporting).

Plum, who has represented the 36th District since 1982, beat Mac Cannon, 61 percent to 38 percent (47 percent of precincts reporting).

Plum said he was pleased with the Democrats' results on Election Day.

"The Democrats are in tune with voters in Fairfax County," Plum said at the county democrats' party in Fairfax. "I am hoping the rest of Virginia will recognize that.

"The news in Fairfax County was good," Plum said. "It's not necessarily going to be good news statewide. But you are sending a hearty group down to Richmond, and we will continue to fight for you."

Democrat Cathy Hudgins, running unopposed, will return to her seat as Hunter Mill Supervisor. Pat Hynes, the Democratic endorsee, defeated Nancy Linton for the Fairfax County School Board Hunter Mill seat.

Patch will have updated and final results in the school board at-large race in a separate story.

In the Board of Supervisors chairperson’s race, incumbent Democrat Sharon Bulova defeated Republican Michael “Spike” Williams, Independent candidate Will Radle and Independent candidate Christopher DeCarlo.

"Local and state elections really matter," Bulova said. "It is what affects you every day."

Voters also passed a , and candidates George Lamb, Johna Good Gagnon and Thomas Cranmer were elected to

For real-time vote counts and a final tally, including precinct-by-precinct breakdown, visit the Virginia Board of Elections site.