Indep, Republican lose Va. House seats

RICHMOND, Va. (Map, News) - Two incumbents - a Republican and an independent - lost their House of Delegates seats in early election returns Tuesday.

Republican G.M. "Manoli" Loupassi, a former Richmond City Council president, defeated Katherine Waddell, one of three House independents. Also, Democrat R.W. "Bobby" Mathieson, a former police officer who now works for a security technology company, defeated Del. John J. Welch III, R-Virginia Beach.

Welch had served three terms, Waddell one.

The GOP held onto two open seats. Jimmie Massie defeated Democrat Tom Herbert for the seat being vacated by Del. Jack Reid, R-Henrico. Brenda L. Pogge beat Democrat Troy J. Farlow and an independent to succeed retiring Del. Melanie Rapp, R-York.

Thirty-four incumbents faced opposition, and Democrats needed to pick up 11 seats to regain control of the House - a tall order in elections that historically favor incumbents. However, Democrats were optimistic about their chances of gaining seats.

Eighteen GOP incumbents faced Democratic challenges, while only six delegates in the minority party had Republican opposition. Also, all seven open seats contested by the major parties were previously held by Republicans.

Democrats also challenged two conservative independents, and seven incumbents - four Republicans and three Democrats - faced independent challengers.

Fifty-nine incumbents had no opposition in the 100-member House.

The election took on additional importance because the party in control will oversee legislative and congressional redistricting in 2011. There will be only one other House election before that, in 2009.

Also, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine needed more fellow Democrats to support his agenda in the final two years of his four-year term.

With the stakes so high, candidates were able to raise a record of more than $60 million for the House and Senate elections - double the fundraising the last time all 140 seats were up for election in 2003.

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