All that door-knocking seems to have paid off.
Republican Rich Anderson won the 51st District House of Delegates seat with 50.6 percent of the vote to 49.3 percent for Del. Paul F. Nichols, according to unofficial results Tuesday from the State Board of Elections.
But only 200 votes separated the two candidates, and a recount was possible.
Anderson retired Feb. 1 after a 30-year Air Force career just to run to represent northeastern Prince William County residents.
"After a long and challenging campaign against a worthy competitor, I look forward to representing the citizens of Prince William County in Richmond," Anderson said.
His winning strategy was to knock on as many doors in the district as possible to find out voters’ concerns and talk about his ideas.
He said his campaign had knocked on 27,000 doors, and he planned to go out in the community again today to thank voters for their support.
Anderson was following in the footsteps — literally and figuratively — of Prince William Circuit Court Clerk Michèle B. McQuigg.
McQuigg, a former county supervisor and delegate, was known for tirelessly visiting with residents.
Anderson won despite being outspent $284,137 to $516,942, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, which monitors money in politics.
Staff writer Jonathan Hunley can be reached at 703-369-5738.
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