2009 Virginia gubernatorial election

Candidates • Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and chair of the Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign • Creigh Deeds, state senator from Warm Springs • Brian Moran, former state delegate from Alexandria File:Creigh Deeds at event.jpg|State Senator Creigh Deeds (campaign article) File:McAuliffe Herndon crop.png|Former Democratic National Committee Chair Terry McAuliffe File:Brian Moran Rally (cropped).jpg|Former State Delegate Brian Moran Campaign The Democratic primary campaign for governor unofficially began on December 13, 2007, when State Senator Creigh Deeds, who ran for Attorney General of Virginia in 2005, announced that he would run for the Democratic nomination. State Delegate Brian Moran, brother of Congressman Jim Moran, joined Deeds on January 4, 2008, when he established a political action committee. For the following year (before McAuliffe indicated his intentions to run), Deeds and Moran squared off picking up endorsements, and raising money. On January 3, 2009, McLean resident Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign announced that he was also running. Endorsements Fundraising Fundraising totals through June 30, 2009, from the Virginia Public Access Project. Polling Results == Republican convention ==

Attorney General Bob McDonnell first announced his intention to run at American Legion's Boys State of Virginia 2007. This was the sixth consecutive Virginian gubernatorial election in which an attorney general ran. McDonnell was the only Republican candidate to file with the election board before the November 2008 deadline. As a result, there was no Republican Party primary. McDonnell accepted the Republican nomination at a state convention on May 30, 2009, in Richmond. Other potential candidates for the Republican nomination, lieutenant governor Bill Bolling and former senator George Allen, both declined to run. Chairman of the Republican National Committee Michael Steele had said that the election for governor of Virginia is one of the most important elections for the Republican Party. Bob McDonnell by Gage Skidmore.jpg|Former attorney general Bob McDonnell (campaign article) ==General election==

Deeds and McDonnell both ran for Attorney General of Virginia in 2005. McDonnell won by just over 300 votes, in the same election in which Tim Kaine was elected Governor with 52% of the vote. The main themes of the election were the economy, transportation, and jobs. The first debate was in Hot Springs, Virginia on July 25. Vice President Joe Biden campaigned for Deeds in Henrico County, Virginia, a suburb of Richmond, Virginia on July 16. Also attending were Richmond Mayor Dwight Clinton Jones, state senator A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico), and Virginia first lady Anne Holton. On August 6, President Barack Obama and Governor Tim Kaine campaigned for Deeds in McLean, Virginia. Deeds is from Bath County, Virginia, a rural area of fewer than 5,000 people, where John McCain received over 55% of the vote. McDonnell is from Virginia Beach, which McCain won with 49.9%. Fundraising Predictions Polling with McAuliffe with Moran Results By county and independent city ;Counties and independent cities that flipped from Republican to Democratic • Bath (Largest city: Hot Springs) ;Counties and independent cities that flipped from Democratic to Republican • Accomack (Largest city: Chincoteague) • Albemarle (largest municipality: Scottsville) • Bedford (Independent city) • Brunswick (largest borough: Lawrenceville) • Buchanan (largest city: Grundy) • Buena Vista (Independent city) • Caroline (largest municipality:Bowling Green) • Chesapeake (independent city) • Danville (independent city) • Dinwiddie (largest municipality: McKenney) • Fairfax (largest municipality: Herndon) • Fairfax (independent city) • Fluvanna (largest CDP: Lake Monticello) • Galax (Independent city) • Giles (Largest city: Pearisburg) • Harrisonburg (independent city) • Henrico (largest borough: Richmond) • Henry (largest city: Ridgeway) • James City (no municipalities) • King and Queen (Largest CDP: King and Queen Courthouse) • Loudoun (largest borough: Leesburg) • Lynchburg (independent city) • Montgomery (largest municipality: Blacksburg) • Nelson (largest municipality: Nellysford) • Northampton (largest borough: Exmore) • Nottoway (Largest city: Blackstone) • Prince Edward (largest municipality: Farmville) • Prince William (largest borough: Manassas) • Radford (Independent city) • Southampton (largest municipality: Courtland) • Staunton (independent city) • Suffolk (independent city) • Sussex (largest borough: Waverly) • Virginia Beach (independent city) • Westmoreland (Largest city: Colonial Beach) • Winchester (independent city) ==See also==