She defeated David Ashe. She defeated Phil Kellam. But Rep. Thelma Drake (R-2nd) could not defeat this guy!
After a battle that lasted well into Wednesday morning, former foreign service officer Glenn Nye (D) has been declared the winner in Virginia's battleground 2nd district.With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Nye held a 52 to 48 lead over Rep. Thelma Drake (R) in the Hampton Roads-based district.
Back in December 2007, I asked right here on RK, "Will Anyone Take on Thelma Drake?" The answer at the time included two possibilities: Jody Wagner and "[a] relatively unknown young Democrat named Glenn Nye." Ha, well, that "relatively unknown young Democrat named Glenn Nye" is now Congressman-elect Glenn Nye, and I couldn't be happier or more excited than if a first-term African-American Senator just got elected President of the United States. Oh wait. Ha. :)
Anyway, congratulations to Congressman-elect Glenn Nye, who defeated a Bush rubber stamp named Thelma Drake and will bring a fresh, energetic, pragmatic approach to Washington, DC in January. Hopefully, Glenn will be there for many years to come, as the 2nd CD - and Virginia - change inexorably from "red" to "blue" - or at least a healthy shade of "purple!"
P.S. It looks like Democrats gained at least 16 House seats last night. This is not as high as many people had expected, but what's cool is that 3 of those 16 new representatives hail from Virginia! Congratulations to Congressmen-elect Gerry Connolly, Glenn Nye and Tom Perriello.
UPDATE: Here are my first impressions of Glenn Nye, after meeting him at the Virginia JJ Dinner on February 9.
Nye is very sharp, articulate, and impressive. Among other things, Nye is a foreign policy realist who believes we need to significantly reduce our military presence in Iraq and get off of Middle East oil. Also, Nye agrees that we need to deal forcefully with global warming and protect a woman's right to choose. He is determined to get Thelma Drake the heck out of Congress. Go Glenn!
Today, 10 months later, Glenn's determination to "get Thelma Drake the heck out of Congress" paid off big time. Just proving, once again, that you've got to believe, you can't just say "so-and-so could never beat so-and-so." Yeah, and how many people thought some "skinny guy with a funny name" could become the first African American elected president of the United States? How many people thought that anyone could defeat Virgil Goode, especially someone as progressive as Tom Perriello? So much for THOSE theories! :)
And mad props to Rick Fromberg and Glenn's staff- GREAT job!!!
I have a new Congressman now: CONGRESSMAN NYE...WOW, it feels so good to say that out loud!
Congrats to Glenn Nye!
I called this race a toss-up a while back, and some doubted that assumption. I think we are all pleased I was correct. A tough race that wasn't called until this morning, but oh what a feeling to have an ethical, responsible leader like Glenn Nye in Congress!
The only precincts still outstanding are the absentee ballots from Norfolk and Virginia Beach. A lot of those votes were absentee in person, which were on regular voting machines, not paper ballots.
What the heck is taking so long?
Thelma, of course, won't concede because she is a sore loser. Why am I not surprised about that?
And now I hope never to have to type her name again!
Poor thing, she'll have a tough time selling housing in the market.