When I wrote this post, I found myself puzzled. In my election analysis, I had noted that the chance of a major party nominee or an incumbent winning an election was quite high. So I was a bit surprised that Richard Stuart had won the race for Senate, 28th District. To “explain the discrepancy, I wrote the following:
Stuart’s success is an apparent anomaly. With no experience in government, he beat a Democrat with previous experience in the House of Delegates. Considering that his opponent also had better financing, that Stuart did win is somewhat remarkable.
Then a friend wrote an email that pointed out an error.
Prior to running for the Senate, Richard Stuart was Commonwealth Atty. for his area. Is that a lack of political experience?
Umm. Yeah, I guess that is political experience. I had goofed. However, since the election was over, I did not see any rush to correct the mistake. So I sat on it for a little while and cogitated (That’s a fancy way to say I procrastinated.).
For the record, Stuart does have have political experience (here). Why didn’t I know about it. Well, I did not do enough fact checking? I believed what I read in the newspaper (here).
Unlike Pollard, who previously distinguished himself in three terms in the House of Delegates, Stuart has no previous experience in government. However, he draws from both his role as a husband and father and his career history to give weight to his plans as senator. (from here)
Admittedly, believing what I read in the newspaper is not much of an excuse, particularly since the same article later said that Stuart was commonwealth’s attorney. Newspapers are notoriously inaccurate and confusing. I should have checked the candidate’s website. Well — it might have helped.
On the bright side, the close election, Stuart (R) 51 % and Pollard (D) 49 %, reaffirms the obvious.
It helps to be an incumbent and/or the nominee/endorsee of one of the major political parties. In only one case did an incumbent lose (highlighted in red here). No independents won. To gain a reasonable chance at victory, you have to win the nomination of one of the major political parties.
So why did Stuart win? I do not know. Because this race was so close and I did not follow it closely, I do not think I could honestly defend any conclusions about the results.
As much as I would like to think Stuart won because he was the more conservative candidate, I cannot prove it. However, you can read the same new article that said that Stuart had no political experience (here) and ascertain that Stuart was the more conservative candidate. 
Don’t you love politics? 
