Republican George Allen and Democrat Tim Kaine held a tight race throughout the campaign season for the Senate seat, but it was Kaine who pulled ahead to win Nov. 6.
According to an article by Politico, Allen was resigned to the results of the election.
“Both Tim and I had the highest honor that anybody could be accorded from the people of Virginia, to serve as governor,” Allen said. “I have called Tim and congratulated him. We mentioned how we do have different views and ideas, and we’ve tried to wage this campaign on ideas, issues and reforms that we feel would be best for Virginia and America.”
Kaine will replace retiring Democrat Jim Webb, who held the Senate seat since 2007.
According to The Associated Press, the race was expensive. Voters were exposed to endless advertising, paid for by outside Political Action Committees (PACs). Nearly 60 percent of the $53 million available to the state was pro-Allen.
In 2005, Kaine was elected Virginia’s 70th governor, according to his campaign website. As governor, he demonstrated fiscal stewardship by cutting the state budget by more than $5 billion.