Cue Rocky Music: Sen. Chuck Colgan Declared Winner

The Washington Post declared Sen. Chuck Colgan, Sr. (D-29) the winner of the Virginia senate seat, beating Republican Tom Gordy.

Colgan won Manassas Park and Manassas City early in the evening.

As of midnight Tuesday, all but one of the 47 voting precincts had reported final numbers, and it was clear Colgan had just won his 10th term, securing 55.10 percent of the total votes to Gordy's 44.72 percent. 

In Manassas City, Colgan had 2,712 votes to Gordy's 2,549 votes.

Colgan thanked all his friends and family who worked on his campaign.

"Thank you for being our friend; we are honored to be in your presence," he told a crowd gathered at his victory party at the Colgan Air hangar at the Manassas Regional Airport Tuesday evening.

Colgan said there were too many people to thank, but did say his daughter, Mary Finnigan, was one of the hardest working people in his campaign.

The race was close between incumbent Colgan and newcomer Tom Gordy. At one point, Gordon was winning Manassas City. The intensity did not seem to get to Colgan, though, who was seen chatting with his friends and family throughout the evening.

Finnigan said she couldn't wait for the election to be over because the Gordy campaign "has been so negative."

Longtime supporters of Colgan from Prince William County were also disappointed to learn they could not vote for Colgan because of this year's redistricting.

"I had heard a lot about changing districts...but I didn't pay attention until I went today and voted, and Sen. Colgan was not on the ballot," said a Nokesville resident. 

"I am Republican, but I have always voted for Chuck Colgan," he said. "He is a good man...he cares about the people. He talks to people i the street as well as congressmen."

Gainsville and Brentsville residents also lamented about not being able to vote for Colgan because of redistricting in the county earlier this year.

This is Sen. Colgan's 10th and final term. Those who came out to support the longest running senator in the Commonwealth's history included:

• Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert

• Manassas City Council Member Sheryl Bass

• Manassas City Mayor Harry J. (Hal) Parrish

• Former Prince William County Chairman Kathleen Seefeldt

Colgan will become the longest running state senator in the Commonwealth's history when he serves just one day in January 2012.