Buta Biberaj concedes Loudoun County prosecutor race after teasing recount
Buta Biberaj (Fox 5 DC, YouTube)
A George Soros-backed prosecutor suffered a shocking upset in deep-blue Northern Virginia, where she fell to her Republican challenger in a county that President Joe Biden won by double digits.
Loudoun County prosecutor Buta Biberaj (D.), who during her 2019 campaign received nearly $1 million from liberal billionaire Soros, on Wednesday conceded her race against Republican Bob Anderson. Biberaj for days signaled she may demand a recount, given that she lost to Anderson by less than 1 percentage point. Under Virginia law, a losing candidate can demand a recount if the race is decided by less than 1 point.
“Buta trails by just 300 votes out of more than 136,000 votes cast. This 0.22% deficit puts our campaign well within the margin for a recount in Virginia,” campaign manager Shannon Sankey said in a Tuesday statement. ”Our campaign is reviewing the results and we expect to make a decision shortly on our next steps.” One day later, however, Biberaj conceded the race. Her campaign on Wednesday said she declined to pursue a recount to “conserve taxpayer funds and expand the transition period to better serve the people of Loudoun County.”
Biberaj’s narrow loss marks a stunning upset in deep-blue Loudoun, a county that President Joe Biden carried by a whopping 25 points in 2020. Biberaj, who has served as the county’s prosecutor since 2020, also massively outraised Anderson, bringing in nearly $680,000 to the Republican’s $70,000, the Loudoun Times-Mirrorreported.
Biberaj is known for her soft approach to crime, having pledged to end cash bail and mandatory minimum sentences, among other reforms. Biberaj as Loudoun County prosecutor stopped pursuing convictions for some misdemeanor cases, including reckless driving and hit-and-run offenses that result in property damage.
Biberaj during her tenure also repeatedly botched high-profile cases. Last year, a series of mistakes led her office to release a murder suspect who then fled Virginia. A county judge also booted Biberaj from a case involving a local dad whose daughter was sexually assaulted in school, citing concerns over the prosecutor’s “impartiality.”
Anderson entered Monday with a 1,000-vote lead and roughly 2,000 votes still to be tallied. While Anderson did not declare victory after election night, he did say that Biberaj had “no current path to victory” and pledged to wait ”for the due process to run course.” Biberaj, meanwhile, refused to concede, labeling the race “too-close-to-call.”
Biberaj went on to net 664 votes on Monday, bringing Anderson’s lead down to roughly 350 votes with roughly 340 left to count. But Biberaj again declined to concede. “I am committed to ensuring every Loudoun vote is counted,” she said in a statement. On Tuesday, Loudoun County finished tabulating those remaining votes, which left Anderson with a 300-vote lead over Biberaj. One day later, Biberaj called Anderson to concede.
Anderson served as Loudoun prosecutor from 1996 to 2003. The Republican on Tuesday said he is ”honored to once again be Loudoun County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney-Elect.”
“I am ready to get to work restoring transparency to the office and to deliver on my promise to protect our community from violent crime,” Anderson said.
What does the defeat of Biberaj in the Loudoun County prosecutor race say about the power of outside funding in local elections
Ginia-releases-child-predator/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>release a child predator, who went on to sexually assault a child. Biberaj’s office also mishandled the prosecution of former Loudoun County Sheriff’s Deputy Nathaniel Raney, who was accused of assaulting a restrained inmate. Raney was ultimately acquitted of all charges due to the prosecutor’s errors in the case.
Anderson, the Republican challenger, focused his campaign on restoring law and order in Loudoun County. He criticized Biberaj’s lenient approach to crime and promised to prioritize the safety of Loudoun residents. His victory is seen as a major setback for progressive |criminal justice reform efforts in the county.
The outcome of this race serves as a reminder that even in deep-blue areas, voters are not always aligned with radical progressive policies. It shows that effective messaging and a commitment to public safety can resonate with voters, even in traditionally liberal strongholds. This result may give hope to conservatives in other heavily Democratic areas, who are working to bring about change and push back against dangerous policies advocated by progressive prosecutors.
The defeat of Biberaj also highlights the potential dangers of heavy outside funding in local elections. With nearly $1 million from Soros, Biberaj was able to outraise her opponent by a significant margin. However, the voters of Loudoun County proved that they cannot be bought and that their priorities cannot be swayed by outside interests. They chose to elect a candidate who better represented their values and concerns.
As conservatives celebrate this victory, it is important to remember that the fight is not over. Progressives will likely regroup and continue their efforts to push their agenda in Loudoun County and beyond. Conservatives must remain vigilant and actively work towards protecting the values and principles that led to this electoral success.
The defeat of Buta Biberaj in the Loudoun County prosecutor race is a significant event with broader implications. It demonstrates the power of the voters to reject radical policies and elect leaders who prioritize public safety. It also reveals the limitations of outside funding in influencing local elections. Ultimately, this race serves as a message to progressive prosecutors and their supporters that their agenda is not universally embraced, even in deep-blue areas. It is a testament to the strength of conservative ideals and the importance of staying engaged in the political process.
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