Kaine defeats Cao, keeping post as Virginia’s senator

Incumbent Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine triumphed over Republican challenger Hung Cao in Virginia’s 2024 race for U.S. Senate. 

Kaine was in high spirits Tuesday morning as he traveled from precinct to precinct, closing out his campaign for the senatorial race in Virginia. 

From Glen Allen to Tuckahoe, Kaine was greeted by voters and local legislators including State Sen. Schulyer VanValkenberg, D-Henrico, and Democratic candidate for Congress in the 1st District, Leslie Mehta. 

“I love being out with [Mehta] and with other Democratic congressional candidates,” Kaine said in an appearance at Tuckahoe Elementary School this morning. 

Kaine’s high spirits continued into the evening as he defeated Cao following the closure of Virginia polls on Nov. 5.  

Kaine was Hillary Clinton’s 2016 vice presidential nominee. Prior to assuming office in the Senate in 2013, Kaine had served as Governor of Virginia and Mayor of Richmond. His policy focused on creating jobs, strengthening the economy, and protecting reproductive rights.

Cao’s platform included advocating for the Second Amendment and increasing American energy independence. Cao has characterized the crisis at U.S.-Mexico border as an “invasion” on his campaign website. 

According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Cao, a first-time senate candidate, raised almost $8 million throughout his campaign, while Kaine raised over $20.5 million over the course of this election cycle. 

“I hate to say this, it all came down to money,” Cao said in an interview with Fox 5. “There's not much that my team could’ve done more unless we had the resources like Tim Kaine. I mean, he’s a 30-year career politician.”

Cao previously ran for Virginia’s 10th district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022, losing the race to Democrat Jennifer T. Wexton by 6.5 percentage points. 

Heading into election day, Kaine was projected to defeat Cao by 14 points, according to a poll from the Schar School at George Mason University.  

“It’s been the honor of my life to represent this community, Richmond, and then my Commonwealth as governor, and now the Commonwealth and country in the U.S. Senate,” Kaine said this morning. “And I’m a guy who can work across the aisle to bring results, that’s what I’ve done since I was on city council and mayor right here, and I’m gonna keep doing that with a lot of energy should I be fortunate to win a third term.” 

Contact sports editor Jimmy James at jimmy.james@richmond.edu and features editor Mary Margaret Clouse at marymargaret.clouse@richmond.edu.