| Albo | Democratic Challenger | Write In | ||||
| 2005 | 10,257 | (51.9%) | 9,479 | (48.0%) | 20 | (0.1%) |
| 2003 | 9,325 | (98.5%) | 0 | (0.0%) | 139 | (1.5%) |
| 2001 | 11,258 | (61.1%) | 7,173 | (38.9%) | 7 | (0.0%) |
| 1999 | 9,075 | (99.3%) | 0 | (0.0%) | 62 | (0.7%) |
| 1997 | 11,200 | (76.0%) | 3,512 | (23.8%) | 26 | (0.2%) |
| 1995 | 7,402 | (58.3%) | 5,287 | (41.6%) | 12 | (0.1%) |
I'd like to thank Kate Wilder for seriously considering running against Albo this year. I'm sure it was a difficult decision and I understand the difficulties and challenges of such an effort weigh heavy on an individual. I hope we haven't seen the last of her public service efforts.
However, the difficulty of any particular individual's decision does not explain or justify the failure of the Democratic party to put up a challenger. Any challenger. Albo was already given two free passes and it boggles the mind to think that he'll be given another this year.
For the past 10 years each challenger has gotten progressively closer, with the last challenger Greg Werkheiser coming within 4% (less than 1000 votes) of taking the seat.
For the past 10 years the entire NOVA region has been turning more and more blue. The 42nd is no exception.
Albo's vote total dropped from 2001 (the last contested year) to 2005 while the total number of votes increased.
In January NLS pointed out that, in the past two elections, the 42nd voted for Kerry, Kaine, Byrne, Deeds, and Webb. The only non-Democratic position is that they voted Yes for the same sex marriage ban.
There is absolutely no excuse for the 42nd to go uncontested this year. We're not talking about a Republican stronghold - Albo is vulnerable. Very vulnerable. The Democratic party must find someone to take this challenge - no matter how difficult that may be they NEED to find someone. And whoever that person is they will receive the full backing of RK and very likely the rest of the Democratic and Progressive Virginia blogosphere.
This seat has pick-up written all over it and we're just going to let it go? Please say it ain't so.
The lack of a filed candidate has more to do with the demographics of the Democratic portions of the district than any lack of effort. This used to be one of the poorest sections of Fairfax and now there are thousands of new houses built in the last 3-4 years (which also partly explains the changing numbers). I've heard that Brian Moran, the House Caucus, and several Mount Vernon electeds have been tirelessly recruiting a candidate in the 42nd and elsewhere. I've also heard that other Democrats in Richmond have been AWOL on candidate recruitment.
FCDC's Albo Must Go blog has really opened a lot of people's eyes by shining a light on Albo's record. This blog is not the place to discuss candidates (Hi Delegate Albo, how's it going?).
But given the changing nature of the 42nd it would be a huge mistake not to run anyone. So no matter how hard they've been trying, it's important that they try harder if no one has stepped up. RK has just tried with Ms. Wilder and unfortunately that didn't pan out. But I can promise whoever does step will have the full support of this blog.
Oh, sorry, I got him confused with Alpo!
But maybe it still works... ;-)
I know Kate Wilder quite well. I don't know if she would have decided to run had she been making the decision in January rather than late March. But it would have been much easier for her or someone else to make a positive decision back then.
But I'd like to remind all potential candidates about Mr. Jim Webb - he was very late to the party (for a Senate race) and pulled off a spectacular upset. A late entry is not a show stopper.