While the focus was on the marquee gubernatorial primary, there were other primaries of note around the Commonwealth, including a few in Hampton Roads.
80th House
Three candidates were vying for the seat vacated by former Delegate, now Judge Ken Melvin. The winner, Matthew James, was supported by much of the establishment in Portsmouth. James now faces Republican Jennifer Lee.
90th House
Incumbent Algie Howell won this race handily with just under 70% of the vote. He now faces Republican Jason Call in the general election.
Newport News Sheriff
Elected as a Republican but now running as a Democrat, Gabe Morgan easily defeated his challenger with nearly 78% of the vote. As far as I can tell, there is no challenger in the fall.
Portsmouth Sheriff
Bill Watson, the incumbent, won the nomination with almost 66% of the vote. He will face independent David Cherry.
Races elsewhere
69th House
Betsy Carr eked out an 88-vote victory in this three way race in Richmond. The 69th is a majority-minority district. The two black candidates duked it out and both lost, a result I had expected in the 80th as well. For one of the challengers, Carlos Brown, this was his second run for office in two separate districts in five months. Given this, I was surprised at the RTD’s endorsement of Brown. Carr will face Republican Ernesto Sampson, Jr.
11th House
Incumbent Onzlee Ware won his primary with 68.5% of the vote amidst various charges made to the State Board of Elections. The Roanoke Free Press has been all over this story so check out the posts there.
38th House
In what can only be termed an upset, challenger Kaye Kory defeated incumbent Bob Hull by 65 votes. Word is that Hull’s colleagues in the House of Delegates are not sorry to see this happen.
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Although the SBE website does not reflect it, I have heard there were a number of last minute filings on Tuesday in House races throughout the Commonwealth. With limited resources, this should make for some competitve races in the fall that otherwise would not have been. As important as the governor’s race is, equally important is giving our next gover, Creigh Deeds, the partners he needs in the House. So identify the campaigns you are going to support with your time and your money and get to work.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Is Deeds going to give up his Senate Seat or run for both positions at the same time?
The Senate is not up for re-election this fall so he won’t be running for both. He will not have to give up his seat to run.
Obama didn’t. Clinton didn’t. McCain didn’t. Biden didn’t. Lieberman didn’t. Palin didn’t.
Why would you expect Deeds to?
Because its the only thing the Republino’s can think of to whine about!
The only thing they have is to fall back on their tried and true negative campaigning! You countering with something factual only makes you a “liberal elite”!
Where is that “world-shaker” when you need him?