Eugene Vindman took the stage late Tuesday night at the Silk Mill in Fredericksburg triumphant in his win in the 7th Congressional District race.
“Is this the greatest country in the world or what?” he asked his patient supporters.
Although the crowd had thinned by the time he arrived, those who remained began chanting, “Eugene, Eugene” and cheered as Vindman and his wife Cindy walked in.
It was an American dream come true for the Ukrainian immigrant, who characterized his win as “a testament to the power of the American experience.”
Vindman was neck and neck with Republican opponent Derrick Anderson until almost 11 p.m. The race was decided by just over 8,000 votes with 342,423 total ballots cast, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
Vindman won more than 65 percent of votes in Prince William County and stalemated Anderson just to the south in Stafford. Although the presidential race had yet to be called nationally, Vindman declared it a “historic night here in Virginia and in the district.”
The Anderson camp, meanwhile, remained defiant. The Republican’s campaign ended the night at 11:39 p.m., saying the race was “too close to call” and that no more updates would be coming forth Tuesday.
Earlier in the evening, Anderson made a brief appearance as the crowd of approximately 125 at the Holiday Inn in Stafford County shouted, “Derrick! Derrick! Derrick!”
“Folks, we know this is going to be a tight race,” Anderson said. “It’s going to continue to be a tight race. I appreciate y’all hanging in there with us. But guess what: We’re going to win this damn thing, alright.”
However, shortly after Anderson’s declaration, more votes rolled in and his deficit increased. A hush went over the room as Vindman’s speech presuming victory was aired on a Washington news station.
Derrick Anderson supporters watch results on a TV at the Republican candidate’s gathering. (Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi)
“We’re going to keep watching,” Anderson said during his appearance. “We knew this was going to be a tight race, folks. But you all have put in so much work … we’re going to keep watching and the numbers are still rolling in, but all the hard work that you all in this room did day in and day out, not just today, not just in early voting, but over the last year to get us where we’re at is going to get us over the finish line.
“I just ask you all, give us a little bit more time. We’re going to get through this thing.”
Vindman and Anderson, both veterans, ran on the power of their military backgrounds to appeal to voters in the district. That’s what brought supporter Peaches Brumley out on Tuesday to cheer on Vindman.
“I feel like he’s honest and he’s gonna work for the people,” she said.
Vindman’s service to his country both in the military and in the National Security Council won him the support of Virginia State Sen. Jeremy McPike.
“Lifelong public servants are very important to me,” he said.
After a campaign that took him from rural parts of the district to the urban center of Prince William County, Vindman promised that he would “represent you all, even if you didn’t vote for me.”
Vindman will take the seat held by Rep. Abigail Spanberger, and he mentioned that he would look to her for guidance in the role.
“The 119th Congress will face working to lower cost of living, strengthening and securing our border and working on continuing to fix and invest in our infrastructure in our region,” he said. “I will work with everyone to address these issues together, no matter their party. Despite the deep polarization in Washington, I remain optimistic that we can still cut through the gridlock. Indeed, it’s the only way forward.”
-Free Press reporter Taft Coghill Jr. contributed to this story
