State Sen. Mark Obenshain (R) said it was still too soon to discuss requesting a recount in the Virginia attorney general race.
Obenshain made the comments at a press conference on Wednesday, a day after Fairfax County election officials finished their review of provisional ballots which gave Obenshain’s Demcratic opponent, state Sen. Mark Herring (D), a boost in the total vote count in the race.
Specifically, Obenshain said it is “premature to talk about a potential recount until a review is done by the State Board of Elections.”
The Virginia State Board of Elections is due to officially certify the results of the election by Nov. 25. Either candidate can request a recount after that as long as the margin is within 1 percent of the total vote count.
“We owe it to the people of Virginia to see this process through to the end,” Obenshain said.
At the press conference Obenshain also listed his transition team. He said that he intend to be prepared “it’s important that whoever comes out ahead in the final vote is ready to do the work of the attorney general’s office.”
“And I intend to be prepared if the vote total puts me in the office to assume the responsibilities as the next attorney general of Virginia,” Obenshain said.
Below is the list and bios of the co-chairmen of Obenshain’s transition team as provided by his campaign:
Jerry KilgoreServed as Secretary of Public Safety under Governor George Allen and as Attorney General from 2002 to 2005, when he resigned to run for Governor,. He received the Republican nomination and ran for Governor in 2005. He currently is a partner at McGuireWoods and senior advisor to McGuireWoods Consulting.Andy MillerServed as a Lieutenant during the Korean War. He served two terms as the Attorney General of Virginia (1970-1977), both times as a Democrat with a Republican governor. He was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1978, narrowly losing to John Warner. He has received NAAG’s Wyman Memorial Award for outstanding service.Chuck JamesServed as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (2002-2008), where he prosecuted numerous federal crimes. Served as Chief Deputy Attorney General of Virginia (2010-2012). Worked as a partner of Williams and Mullen from 2008-2010 and 2012 to the present. Has been recognized as member of the legal elite by Virginia Business magazine.Lisa CarusoFourteen years of trial experience in numerous areas including family and domestic cases. Served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Emporia and Brunswick County. Served as Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney in Colonial Heights. Is currently serving as Commonwealth’s Attorney for Dinwiddie County.
