Jim Hyland was able to overcome Ed Robinson’s fund-raising advantage in the Republican primary to represent the 35th District in the Virginia House of Representatives. He also defeated fellow-Republican Arthur Purves. Hyland will now face off against Del. Steve Shannon (D-35) in the November general election.
"I think Ed Robinson ran a great race for a first-time candidate, and Arthur (Purves) always added a great deal of intellect to the race," said Hyland. "But the real race is about Steve Shannon and the boulevard of broken promises on the sales tax, on raising taxes on senior citizens and the failure to secure the funding that could have reduced our property taxes.”
Hyland won, taking 1,445 votes (50.86 percent), while Robinson finished with 1,150 votes (40.48 percent). Purves finished third with 246 votes (8.66 percent).
Both of the top candidates said they would be fiscally conservative, if elected. Hyland offered voters concrete plans for how to solve specific problems, while Robinson’s campaign focused on listening and attempting to restore public confidence in government.
Until Shannon won the seat in 2003, it had been held by now Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-34), raising Republican hopes that they could regain the seat.
In the 2004 presidential race, the district favored Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) by a very slim 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent margin over President George W. Bush (R).
As of June 1, Robinson, a first-time candidate, had raised over $122,481 in the primary race, compared to Hyland’s $41,521, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
Shannon has raised $220,558, seventh highest in the state among House of Delegates candidates, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
Hyland, an attorney and Oakton resident, has worked in the offices of several members of the U.S. Senate. He ran unsuccessfully for Providence District Supervisor, losing to Linda Smyth (D) in 2003. He has never held elected office.