Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
Democrat Karen “Kacey” Carnegie is the presumed winner of the Virginia House District 89 seat following Tuesday’s unofficial election results. Carnegie’s victory will provide Virginia Democrats with a two-year seat that both parties targeted as it’s a district considered among the most competitive both in Hampton Roads and the commonwealth. It was an open seat up for grabs after one-term Republican incumbent Baxter Ennis opted not to run for reelection. With 98% of votes reported, Carnegie received 54.4% of the vote, while Republican Mike Lamonea received 45.6%. Results are unofficial until the election is canvassed and certified in the coming weeks. “This win is not just for me. It’s for all the people of the 89th District — those who voted for me and those who didn’t,” Carnegie said around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at Taqueria La Patrona in Chesapeake. Carnegie said her top focus is affordability, including raising the minimum wage, reducing the child care costs and capping health care premiums. “It looks like Virginia is showing the rest of the country that we’re going to fight back against what’s happening, and we’re here to protect our citizens and not let what’s happening on the federal level affect our Virginians.” District 89 encompasses part of Suffolk and a significant chunk of western Chesapeake. Carnegie, an attorney, previously said her top priorities include lowering the cost of living, increasing the minimum wage and making child care more affordable. Lamonea, a retired special agent and executive with ICE Homeland Security Investigations, currently sits on the Chesapeake School Board. He previously said a strong security infrastructure and the elimination of the car and grocery taxes were among his main priorities. Both Carnegie and Lamonea beat their respective party challengers in a double-primary in June.
