Tight Cunningham School Board race may head to recount

Johnson trails Rittenhouse by just 21 votes; other contests bring clear wins across county

By Heather Michon
Correspondent

A week after Fluvanna voters went to the polls, one local race remains hanging in the balance.

In the Cunningham District, incumbent Charles Rittenhouse holds a razor-thin lead over challenger Sarah Johnson. Only 21 votes separate the two — a margin of just 0.85 percentage points — with a handful of provisional ballots still to be counted.

Under Virginia law, a recount can be requested when the difference between candidates is less than 1 percent. 

Johnson indicated that if the margin stayed under one percent when the provisional ballots were counted, she would be calling for a full recount.

“I want to emphasize the absolute importance of how EVERY single vote matters. If you’ve ever doubted this, please take a look at this race,” she wrote on her campaign Facebook page Friday.

The race also drew attention for an Election Day dust-up at the Antioch Baptist Church polling place. According to eyewitnesses and a short video clip shared online, Rittenhouse and his wife, County Treasurer Rittenhouse, objected to Johnson wearing a rainbow-striped knit cap, with Mr. Rittenhouse reportedly calling it “offensive” on church property.

Clear Wins in Other School Board Contests

Elsewhere on the ballot, the school board races were far more decisive.

Incumbent Andre Key coasted to another term in the Rivanna District without opposition.

In Columbia, Sean Brennan faced no formal opponent and defeated write-in candidates with 75 percent of the vote.

And in Fork Union, R. Anthony Edmonds topped Jennifer Butler in a special election to complete the remaining term of Danny Reed, who resigned in July.

Sheridan Elected Commissioner of the Revenue

Lauren Ryalls Sheridan captured the race for Commissioner of the Revenue, defeating Donald Reynard with more than 71 percent of the countywide vote.

She will serve a two-year term to complete the unexpired tenure of outgoing commissioner Andrew “Mel” Sheridan.

Supervisors Cruise to Reelection

On the Board of Supervisors, incumbents Mike Sheridan in Columbia, Tony O’Brien in Rivanna, and Chris Fairchild in Cunningham, ran unopposed and will return for new four-year terms.

Statewide Results Mixed Locally

While Democratic candidates Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi, and Jay Jones swept statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general, Fluvanna voters leaned the other way.

Republican Winsome Earle-Sears led Spanberger in the county by just 14 votes. John Reid finished 492 votes ahead of Hashmi, and Jason Miyares held more than a 1000-vote edge over Jones.

Garrett Holds 56th District

In the race for the House of Delegates, incumbent Tom Garrett retained his seat in the 56th District, which includes all or parts of Fluvanna, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Louisa, and Prince Edward counties.

Democratic challenger Angela Chainer, a Fluvanna resident, ran strongly at home, coming within 448 votes of carrying the county. Garrett ultimately won districtwide with 61 percent of the vote.

In the 55th District, which touches a small corner of Fluvanna, Amy Laufer ran unopposed and collected all six votes cast locally.