Virginia Still Tallying Governor’s Race
An elections official said Monday that her staff will go over returns “with a fine-toothed comb” before certifying the outcome of the governor’s race, in which Democatic Lt. Gov. L. Douglas Wilder apparently defeated Republican J. Marshall Coleman.
Susan Fitz-Hugh, secretary of the electoral board, said the state’s 136 localities have finished canvassing the Nov. 7 balloting for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, the House of Delegates and local offices and referenda.
Wilder, who would be the first black to be elected governor, leads Coleman, a former attorney general, by a few thousand votes.
Final returns obtained from local registrars Monday showed 897,125 votes for Wilder to 890,273 for Coleman, a difference of 6,852 out of 1.78 million votes cast. Returns from three counties had not yet been verified. Coleman has said he will ask for a recount if Wilder’s lead of less than 0.5% holds up.
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