FREDERICKSBURG — At the Vangie Williams campaign watch party in Jay’s Downtown Sports Lounge in Downtown Fredericksburg, tensions ran high as supporters, staff, and volunteers awaited the verdict of the first district congressional election.
“This is more exciting than all six of my daughters and marrying my husband, so that says a lot,” said Williams, a Democrat. “At least when you’re having a baby, you know what you’re going to get.”
Williams was a first-time politician running against 11-year incumbent Republican Rob Wittman. In the end, Wittman won the election with 55.22 percent of the votes.
While her supporters clapped and cheered when they learned about Democratic wins across the nation, they weren’t able to celebrate a Democratic win in Virginia’s wide 1st Congressional District, which spans from Prince William County to near Williamsburg.
Wittman took to social media to thank his supporters, stating: “Serving America’s First District has been the honor of my life. Thank you for entrusting me with two more years.”
Wittman won by a smaller margin this year as compared to the 2016 election against Democrat Matthew Rowe. In 2016, Wittman won by a 23.25 percent margin; however, in 2018 he only won by a 10.53 percent margin.
In Stafford, a county that has voted a majority Republican in the past, Wittman won by a mere 4.38 percent margin (2,454 votes) as opposed to an 18.32 percent margin (11,870 votes) in the 2016 election.
As expected, Williams took Prince William County to the north with 56.72 percent of the votes. Fredericksburg to the south is also solid Democrat territory.
If Williams had won, she would have been the first woman of color to ever be elected to a set in Congress for Virginia. Even though she lost, her campaign made strides for diversity and representation in Congress.
Williams didn’t accept any donations from PAC organizations and ran her campaign “for the people.” She and her campaign staff walked door to door trying to reach constituents who aren’t normally reached.
“Vangie is true and blue,” said communications director Sheri Shannon. “She is a very people-oriented person. We’ve seen her campaign go from a handful of volunteers to a full campaign staff, and we’ve been able to mobilize not only Democrats but also Republicans and moderates across the district.”
Williams and her supporters didn’t walk away from the night with sorrow; instead, they are looking ahead to the 2020 election. Her campaign staff has already started passing around envelopes for donations.
“I am really proud of the grassroots efforts that have taken place in this community, Williams said. “We have actually made a difference in our community, and we have set ourselves up for the 2019 election. My heart is saying that I’m not done until the fat lady sings.”
