UPDATE: Official statement from Tom Perriello
"I congratulate Senator Hurt and, along with my team, will do everything we can to ensure a smooth transition. It has been a tremendous honor to serve the people of the 5th district and I am so proud of the work we’ve done. Real change is not something that is measured in a year or two; I believe that our actions will ripple out for years to come. The best kind of politics is one that puts a sense of problem-solving ahead of political points, and I’m proud to have tackled the tough problems of our community and nation. We faced the brink of a depression and turned that around into nine straight months of private-sector job growth. I’ll continue to find ways to serve my community and my country with anyone from any party or organization who is serious about rebuilding the middle-class and the next great American decade."
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Tom Perriello stood on a stage at Siips Wine and Champagne Bar & Bistro on the Downtown Mall with his family while a crowd cheered “We love Tom,” and conceded the Fifth Congressional District race to his Republican challenger, Senator Robert Hurt.
He announced that he had just spoken with Hurt by phone, congratulated him on the victory and urged the large crowd to do the same. “Give him a round of applause,” he told the crowd.
Perriello told the room that one of his first priorities is to help with Hurt’s transition into his job in Washington, because “it’s always been about the people,” and not political parties. Perriello said he is willing to work with anybody who is ready to serve the people of Virginia.
“I’m excited tonight,” Perriello said, and added that he was “proud of what we have accomplished” in two years. He called his time in Congress “the greatest honor of my life.”
Near the end of his remarks, Perriello said that his father, who died in March of last year, told him that “Judgement Day is more important than Election Day"—that, in the end, it is most important to do what is right.
With 93 percent precincts reporting, Hurt leads with 50.82 percent, Perriello trails with 46.87 percent and Independent candidate Jeffrey Clark closes the race at 2.22 percent.
Perriello won both Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville with 57 percent and 80 percent of the votes, respectively.