Krupicka Secures Seat to Represent 45th House District

Democrat Rob Krupicka won in a landslide Tuesday night in his quest to secure a House of Delegates seat representing the 45th District of Virginia.

"[This election] is a wakeup call for all of us for the next two months that we are going to work tirelessly so the direction of this state and country keeps moving forward to make our country stronger," Krupicka said at his victory party at in Del Ray. "You're not going to stop us for standing up for what we believe in as a community. That's standing up for education, equal pay, good jobs, giving everyone a seat at the table no matter their sexual orientation or race."

Krupicka took 75.7 percent of the vote—about 6,384 total votes—in the unofficial count after polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday with all 24 precincts reporting.

Krupicka, who has been on the Alexandria City Council since 2003, largely was expected to win over his opponents,  and .

"It would be wrong if we had elections and we didn’t have competitors," Krupicka said. "Those elections make America a better place. Tim McGhee and Mr. Malkin both put in incredible efforts in a five-week campaign."

McGhee snagged 21 percent of the vote, or 1,737 votes, while Malkin took home 3.4 percent, or 288 votes.

"Rob will do a fantastic job down there," said Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille. "He's a good team player."

Euille added that Krupicka would emphasize in Richmond "youth and family initiatives, support in education and closing the minority achievement gap."

"You can't throw one past Alexandria. You can't throw one past Fairfax. You can't throw one past Arlington County. We're going to get everyone out to vote no matter what you call it," Krupicka said.

Dak Hardwick, chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, said, "There is not a candidate in this race that knows the values of the voters of Alexandria better than Rob Krupicka."

An Alexandria Circuit Court judge likely will appoint a replacement for Krupicka to finish his term on Alexandria's City Council once he is sworn in as a state delegate.

Euille told Patch that former City Councilman David Speck had expressed an interest in the short-term position.

Gov. Bob McDonnell called the special election for Tuesday after former Del. David Englin, a Democrat, an extramarital affair.

About 49,000 voters in the city of Alexandria, approximately 5,000 in Fairfax County and about 13,000 in Arlington were eligible to vote in this statehouse race, according to the State Board of Elections.