GOP's Obenshain concedes in Va. attorney general race

Catalina Camia, USA TODAY3:39 p.m. EST December 18, 2013


(Photo: Steve Helber, AP)

The drawn-out race for Virginia attorney general is now over, more than six weeks after Election Day.

Republican Mark Obenshain conceded Wednesday to Democrat Mark Herring, after a recount showed Herring's slim lead had expanded.

"Our campaign is going to come up a few votes short," Obenshain said at a news conference in Richmond. "It was a vigorous and hard-fought campaign, but it's over."

Obenshain's concession means Democrats in Virginia will now hold all statewide offices for the first time since 1970, in a sign that there is more blue being injected into the swing state's purple tinge.

Herring was certified as the winner of the attorney general's race by the State Board of Elections, by a margin of 165 votes out of more than 2.2 million cast. It was the closest statewide political race in Virginia history, and well within the margin that entitled Obenshain to a recount at state expense.

The recount began Monday. Herring's lead grew to more than 810 votes with about three-fourths of the ballots recounted, the Democrat's campaign said. The recount was slated to end Wednesday.

Obenshain pledged to work with Herring and Democratic Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe on issues such as human trafficking and cracking down on child predators.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/onpoli...rring/4113903/