Voter turnout was strong in Gloucester and Mathews counties, but fell short of 2020 levels, as residents went to the polls Tuesday (and voted both early in person and by absentee ballot), with a clear majority of those casting their votes in favor of Republican candidates.
Former President Donald Trump received about 68.5 percent of the vote in Gloucester, and just over 69 percent of the vote in Mathews County, with Vice President Kamala Harris 30.3 percent of the Gloucester vote and 29.78 percent in Mathews.
While Virginia’s 13 electoral votes were won by Harris (who received 51.8 percent of ballots cast statewide), the Associated Press declared Trump the winner early Wednesday morning, with Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes pushing him over the 270-vote threshold.
Voters in the two counties also overwhelmingly supported both U.S. Senate Republican challenger Hung Cao and incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Montross).
In Gloucester, Cao received 67.16 percent of the vote to 32.75 percent for Sen. Tim Kaine, who went on to win a third term in the U.S. Senate with 54.11 percent of the statewide vote. Cao won slightly over 68 percent of the vote in Mathews, compared to 31.77 percent for Kaine.
Wittman handily won the two counties, defeating Democratic challenger Leslie Mehta by winning 73.15 percent of the vote in Gloucester and 74 percent in Mathews. In the entire 1st Congressional District, the margin was closer, with Wittman receiving 56.33 percent of the vote to 43.3 percent for Mehta.
“I thank Virginia’s First District voters for sending me back to Washington to continue to fight for our district’s priorities: a strong economy that allows everyone to achieve the American dream and a safe, secure future for our children,” Wittman said in a statement following the win. “I am once again humbled by the opportunity to serve you again, and I promise to be a responsible steward of your trust and your tax dollars, and to continue providing quality constituent services for all residents in Virginia’s First District.”
The lone amendment to the state’s constitution on Tuesday’s ballot, which would extend the tax exemption to surviving spouses of soldiers who died in the line of duty, was overwhelmingly approved, both statewide and locally. The amendment received 92.99 percent “yes” votes in Gloucester, and 93.2 percent in Mathews; statewide, the measure passed with over 93 percent of the vote.
Voter turnout
Voter turnout was strong in Gloucester and Mathews counties, with 78 percent of registered voters in Mathews, and 73 percent in Gloucester taking part in the election. In Mathews, 5,919 ballots were cast out of 7,566 registered voters. In Gloucester, 22,961 votes were recorded out of a pool of 31,383 registered voters.
The numbers were slightly below the last presidential election, when 82.6 percent of eligible voters in Mathews participated and 76 percent cast ballots in Gloucester in 2020.
Above, Claudia Lamb, Lisa Watson and Chuck Watson, from left, campaign for the Republican ticket at Petsworth Elementary School, where Salem precinct voters cast their ballots. Below, Thelma and Eric Benns provide information to incoming voters under the Democratic tent at Gloucester’s Salem precinct.
Eighteen-year-old Chloe Schaible of Cobbs Creek, in photo above, and 81-year-old Ida E. Davis of Mathews, below in photo at right with NAACP President Edith Turner, were both first-time voters in Tuesday’s presidential election. Schaible voted at Mathews High School in the Piankatank Precinct, while Davis voted at Thomas Hunter Middle School in the Westville Precinct.
David Walden Jr. of Dutton casts his vote by placing his ballot in the Unisyn electronic ballot scanner at the Piankatank Precinct at Mathews High School during Tuesday’s election. Precinct Chair Dawn Miller said there was only a short line when the polls opened Tuesday morning and that, as of 9:30 a.m., the day had gone smoothly, with steady voting. “Smooth sailing so far,” she said with a smile.
Marty Abrahamson and future voter Jesse Abrahamson are shown outside of Gloucester Point Baptist Church.
Poll worker Katrina Brown greeted voters, provided information and handed out sample ballots at the Gloucester Point Baptist Church in the Gloucester Point District.