Republican Rich Anderson's victory in the House of Delegates' 51st District was underscored Wednesday after the Prince William County Electoral Board scrutinized Tuesday night's results.
The 30-year Air Force veteran had a 200-point lead over Del. Paul F. Nichols on Tuesday, according to unofficial results.
And he gained 72 votes after the county election canvass found a clerical error from the Kerrydale precinct and paper ballots that weren't counted in the Kerrydale and Kilby precincts.
Nichols, the Democratic incumbent, also gained a vote from a paper ballot not counted at Kilby, but that wasn't enough to overtake his challenger's lead.
The election results won't be final, however, until certified by the state later this month.
Nichols, a Lake Ridge lawyer, was seeking his second term representing northeastern Prince William residents. He was first elected in 2007.
He went through a roller coaster of a night Tuesday, as supporters kept receiving conflicting reports about the status of the election. First the race seemed a Nichols win, then it would shift to a victory for Anderson.
From the outset of the contest, political observers figured Anderson would give Nichols a strong fight. The 54-year-old Woodbridge resident retired from the Air Force on Feb. 1 and has focused on the campaign since then.
The hallmark of his efforts was door-to-door campaigning, and he was back knocking on doors again Wednesday, though this time he was thanking voters for their support, not asking for it.
"I also thank Delegate Paul F. Nichols for his own service and for his sincere willingness to assist in a smooth transition," Anderson said in a prepared statement. "Over the next several weeks, I will be preparing for the 2010 session of the General Assembly and to representing the long-range interests of Prince William County and our Commonwealth."
Nichols called Anderson Wednesday evening to concede the race. He said he congratulated the winner and pledged to help him through the transition.
Nichols also noted that he out-performed the statewide Democratic ticket in Prince William.
"So I had a lot of bipartisan support, but the numbers just weren't there," Nichols said.
The lawmaker also said he will continue to try to bring Metrorail to the county.
Staff writer Jonathan Hunley can be reached at 703-369-5738.
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