Voters Face Stark Choice In Virginia Special Election

A special election for Virginia's House of Delegates is pitting two very different candidates against each other.

Voters will face a fairly straightforward choice on Sept. 5, when an election for the 45th District will determine who goes to Richmond next year. In one corner, there's Republican Tim McGhee, who says he supports the repeal of the one-per-month handgun restriction — which was implemented July 1 — opposes expansion of Medicaid and supports imposing new construction standards on abortion clinics.

"Despite what you may hear from the other side on this issue, this industry does have a track record of creating some very dangerous and deadly situations for women," says McGhee.

In the other corner is Democrat Rob Krupicka, who would have opposed the effort to overturn handgun restrictions, supports Medicaid expansion and opposes efforts to impose new strict new regulatory standards on abortion clinics.

"This other stuff in terms of the war on women and everything else is completely taking our eye off the ball of what we should actually be doing as elected officials," says Krupicka.

The need for a special election came about after Del. David Englin resigned in June after acknowledging that he had been unfaithful in his marriage. Area Democrats have objected to the early date of the special election, saying Gov. Bob McDonnell is attempting to press the advantage for Republicans.

The district stretches from the southern part of Arlington through Del Ray and Old Town into southeast Fairfax County.