Republican Denver Riggleman on Tuesday was elected to represent Virginia’s 5th Congressional District in Congress, turning aside a challenge from Democrat Leslie Cockburn.
Mr. Riggleman, a distillery owner/operator, will succeed retiring GOP Rep. Tom Garrett and deny Democrats what the party had eyed as one of several realistic House pick-up opportunities in Virginia.
The Associated Press called the race for Mr. Riggleman at 8:39 p.m. after polls closed in the state at 7 p.m. With nearly 88 percent of precincts reporting, Mr. Riggleman led Mr. Cockburn by a 55 percent to 45 percent margin.
The 5th District stretches from the North Carolina border up through the college town of Charlottesville near Washington, D.C.’s outer suburbs.
Mr. Garrett decided in late May he would not seek reelection in the deep-red 5th congressional district, giving Ms. Cockburn a much-needed head start against Mr. Riggleman.
Ms. Cockburn outraised Mr. Riggleman 2-to-1 and got high-profile support from Democratic Sen. Mark Warner and former Republican Sen. John Warner, though Mr. Riggleman got support from Vice President Mike Pence and a late boost from the Congressional Leadership Fund, the main House GOP-aligned super PAC.
Pollsters said the race was “neck and neck” leading into Election Day.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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