On Election Day, not only did Virginians go to the ballot box to decide the next congressional representative or U.S. senator, but those in the Roanoke area in southwest Virginia also decided on a new member of the House of Delegates, a race that could have decided a flipped balance of power in the state legislature. In the race featuring Republican Joe McNamara, a longtime Roanoke County Board of Supervisors member, and Democrat Carter Turner, a former professor and administrator at Radford University, McNamara took the win, helping the GOP retain control of the statehouse.
For the race in the 8th House District, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, McNamara won with 61.74 percent of the vote – 21,251 votes cast – and Democratic candidate Turner garnered just 38.16 percent – 13,134 votes cast.
McNamara conveyed to voters in the area, which consists of Salem, Craig County, and parts of Roanoke and Montgomery counties, that as a supervisor, small business owner, and certified public accountant, he has the budgeting and governing expertise needed on Bank Street in Richmond. He boasts a two decade-long record of abiding by a conservative fiscal plan, reiterating that he has never voted for a tax increase, has lowered taxes in Roanoke, and has helped reduce the county’s debt. His campaign has centered on “reining in government” and “not funding the wish list.”
Late Tuesday night, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) released a statement congratulating McNamara.
“I want to congratulate Joe and his team on a hard fought victory,” Speaker Cox said.
He added, “Joe ran a campaign focused on the issues important to the people of the Roanoke and New River Valleys, and I look forward to working with him as the newest member of the House of Delegates. Joe’s experience as a small business owner will be invaluable to the House as he joins our fight for lower taxes, fewer regulations, and creating an environment that is welcoming to businesses.”