U.S. House, Virginia - 2nd District
Southeast -- Virginia Beach, parts of Norfolk and Hampton
Race Forecast: Republican Favored
2006: 2006: Rep.
Democrats, ignoring the general Republican leanings of this military-oriented district (which gave President Bush 58 percent in 2004), went hard after Drake in 2006 with Kellam, a well-known local official. But Drake held on in her first re-election bid. Democrats were emboldened by gains in Virginia Beach, the district ’ s population center, in state legislative elections last November. Democrat Glenn Nye, a former Foreign Service office who recently returned from a nine-month stint in Iraq with the U.S. Agency for International Development, is challenging Drake.
Race Information
- Incumbent: Rep. Thelma Drake, R
- First Elected: 2004 (2nd term)
- Last Elected: 2006 (51.27%)
- Incumbent Status: Running for reelection
- Race Forecast: Republican Favored
District Information
Politics in America District Profile
Taking in the state ’ s Atlantic coastline, the 2nd is dominated by Virginia Beach, a center for white-collar military families and retirees. The district includes parts of Norfolk and Hampton and crosses the Chesapeake Bay inlet to reach Virginia ’ s portion of the Delmarva Peninsula.
Two-thirds of the 2nd ’ s population lives in the state ’ s largest city, Virginia Beach, but growth has slowed in recent years in the wake of military base closings and land scarcity in the city ’ s urban northern section. The 2005 BRAC round ordered Fort Monroe, in nearby Hampton, closed by 2011, but scheduled personnel increases at the district ’ s other installations may mean the 2nd will avoid job losses.
The 2nd includes half of Norfolk (shared with the 3rd), a largely blue-collar and Democratic-leaning area with a sizable Filipino population and a history as an important port city. The naval base here still dominates the district ’ s economy, which is bolstered by shipbuilding and shipping companies. On the peninsula, Accomack and Northampton counties attract beach-related tourism.
The 2nd ’ s conservatism derives more from military and economic issues than social questions. Voters favor the GOP, but Democrats did well here in 2005, winning most state legislative seats outside of Virginia Beach. Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine even won Virginia Beach ’ s vote in 2005.
Major Industry
Military, tourism, shipbuilding
Military Bases
Naval Station Norfolk, 54,000 military, 11,000 civilian (2007); Naval Air Station Oceana, 12,000 military, 2,500 civilian; Langley Air Force Base, 8,722 military, 2,370 civilian (2007); Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, 7,700 military, 1,815 civilian; Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex, 3,600 military, 1,300 civilian (2005); Fort Monroe (Army), 1,393 military, 1,948 civilian (2005); Fort Story (Army), 987 military, 205 civilian (2004)
Cities
Virginia Beach, 425,257; Norfolk (pt.), 112,102; Hampton (pt.), 54,753
Notable
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, just north of Virginia Beach, is the longest bridge-tunnel in the world at 17.6 miles.
- Demographics (2000 census)
- Population: 643,510
- Under 18: 25.6%
- Over 65: 9.4%
- Married: 54.5%
- Non-Hispanic White: 67%
- Black: 21%
- Hispanic: 4%
- Asian: 4%
- Foreign Born: 6.2%
- Language other than English: 10%
- Median Household Income: 44,193
- Owner Occupied Housing: 63.4%
- Income above $200k: 1.9
- Workforce/Education (2000 census)
- White Collars: 63.0%
- Blue Collars: 21.7%
- Services: 15.3%
- Bachelor's Degree: 25%
- Graduate Education: 8.6%
- Civilian Veterans: 97,262
Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | general | Thelma Drake (R) | 88,777 | 51.3% |
Phil Kellam (D) | 83,901 | 48.4% | ||
2004 | general | Thelma Drake (R) | 132,946 | 55.1% |
David Ashe (D) | 108,180 | 44.8% | ||
2002 | general | Ed Schrock (R) | 103,807 | 83.2% |
D. Amarasinghe (GREEN) | 20,589 | 16.5% |
Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | John Kerry: 42% | George W. Bush: 58% | |
2000 | Al Gore: 43% | George W. Bush: 55% |
Campaign Finance Details for the 2008 Race
Filers | Through | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total From PACs | Total From Individuals | Ending Cash | Debts Owed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PICKETT, OWEN B (D) | June 30, 2007 | $21,079.00 | |||||
ASHE, DAVID BENJAMIN (D) | December 31, 2007 | $770.00 | $34,136.00 | ||||
KELLAM, PHILIP JEFFERSON (D) | December 31, 2007 | $13,132.00 | $5,992.00 | $300.00 | $7,278.00 | $75,100.00 | |
DRAKE, THELMA D. (R) | December 31, 2007 | $741,149.00 | $323,979.00 | $71,919.00 | $375,181.00 | $425,787.00 |