2013 Virginia gubernatorial election

2013 Virginia gubernatorial election
LadyofHats with additional editing by 痛 and Patrickneil · Public domain · source
Election name	2013 Virginia gubernatorial election
Country	Virginia
Type	gubernatorial
Previous election	2009 Virginia gubernatorial election
Previous year	2009
Next election	2017 Virginia gubernatorial election
Next year	2017
Election date	November 5, 2013
Turnout	43.6%
Nominee1	Terry McAuliffe
Party1	Democratic Party
Popular vote1	1,066,358
Percentage1	48.0%
Nominee2	Ken Cuccinelli
Party2	Republican Party
Popular vote2	1,039,410
Percentage2	46.8%
Nominee3	Robert Sarvis
Party3	Libertarian Party
Popular vote3	127,068
Percentage3	5.7%
Title	Governor
Before election	Bob McDonnell
Before party	Republican Party
After election	Terry McAuliffe
After party	Democratic Party

2013 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2013, to elect the Governor of Virginia. The contest featured a competitive three-way race that culminated in a narrow victory for Terry McAuliffe over Ken Cuccinelli with notable third-party performance by Robert Sarvis. The election attracted national attention from figures and organizations across the 2012 presidential and 2016 political cycles, think tanks, and advocacy groups.

Background

Virginia's executive turnover follows the single-term limit established by the Virginia Constitution. Incumbent governor Bob McDonnell was ineligible to seek reelection due to the term-limited restrictions mirrored in previous successions like the transition from Mark Warner to Tim Kaine. The 2013 race occurred amid heightened national focus after the 2012 contests involving Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, and policy debates over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Obamacare implementation, and Affordable Care Act controversies. Virginia's demographic shifts in regions such as Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads set the stage for an electorate attentive to issues raised by statewide leaders including Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, and former cabinet members like Hillary Clinton.

Candidates and Primaries

The Democratic primary nominated Terry McAuliffe, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee and entrepreneur with ties to figures such as Bill Clinton and James A. Baker III. Prominent Democrats like Mark Warner and Tim Kaine declined to run, clearing a path for McAuliffe against minor primary opposition. The Republican primary produced Ken Cuccinelli, then the Attorney General of Virginia, who had run with endorsements from conservative activists and organizations linked to Heritage Foundation-aligned networks and figures like Michele Bachmann. Other Republican primary hopefuls included E. W. Jackson and activists associated with statehouse coalitions and local Republican committees. The Libertarian ticket nominated Robert Sarvis, a lawyer and entrepreneur who won ballot access after overcoming challenges from groups connected to the Libertarian National Committee and state election authorities.

Campaign

The general election campaign featured heavy involvement from national organizations including the Democratic National Committee, the Republican National Committee, Americans for Prosperity, and MoveOn.org. Major themes included debates over taxes, Medicaid expansion debates linked to the Affordable Care Act, transportation funding in corridors such as Interstate 95, and social issues spotlighted by the state attorney general's actions in cases relating to abortion and same-sex marriage. Fundraising drew support from figures like George Soros, Sheldon Adelson, and corporate donors with interests in industries represented by Virginia Port Authority stakeholders and defense contractors near Norfolk Naval Station. Super PACs and independent expenditure groups, including those associated with Crossroads GPS and Priorities USA Action, injected ads into media markets in Richmond, Norfolk, and Alexandria.

Debates and Endorsements

Debates were hosted by media outlets and civic organizations such as the Virginia Bar Association and local television affiliates, featuring McAuliffe, Cuccinelli, and Sarvis. Endorsements came from a broad spectrum: McAuliffe received backing from labor unions like the AFL–CIO, elected officials including Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, and national figures such as Barack Obama. Cuccinelli was endorsed by conservative leaders including Ted Cruz, social conservatives like Tony Perkins, and state-level Republicans allied with Eric Cantor. Sarvis drew endorsements from civil libertarians, some Cato Institute-aligned commentators, and small-government advocates connected to libertarian networks.

Polling and Predictions

Polling throughout 2013 showed a competitive three-way dynamic with varying leads for McAuliffe and Cuccinelli; internal polls by campaigns and outside firms such as RNC and DNC produced differing margins. Political handicappers at outlets like The Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and RealClearPolitics categorized the race as a battleground, with analytics influenced by turnout models from organizations including Pew Research Center and forecasting efforts by aggregators such as FiveThirtyEight.

Election Results

On November 5, McAuliffe won with approximately 48.0% to Cuccinelli's 46.8% and Sarvis's 5.7%. County and city returns showed McAuliffe carrying population centers including Alexandria, Arlington County, and Fairfax County, while Cuccinelli prevailed in many rural counties and exurban localities across regions like the Shenandoah Valley and Southside Virginia. Sarvis outperformed typical third-party showings in suburban precincts, attracting votes in technology-influenced areas near Reston and Tysons Corner. The narrow margin underscored the role of turnout in Northern Virginia and demographic shifts noted by analysts at institutions such as Brookings Institution and Urban Institute.

Aftermath and Impact

McAuliffe's victory influenced subsequent state policy debates on issues including Medicaid expansion and transportation funding mechanisms like proposals for tolls and public-private partnerships involving entities such as Transurban. The result affected national narratives during the 2014 midterm cycle, shaping strategies by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee. Cuccinelli's defeat prompted discussion about the viability of conservative legal priorities in statewide races and influenced his later involvement in conservative litigation networks and associations with groups like the Federalist Society. Sarvis's performance reinvigorated discussion of third-party ballot access and influenced Libertarian organizing ahead of future Virginia elections. The 2013 election remains a case study in modern American campaigns involving Super PACs, demographic realignment, and the interaction between state-level contests and national political movements.

Category:Virginia gubernatorial elections Category:2013 elections in the United States