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Virginia Beach — A Virginia Beach attorney pulled off one of the most notable election upsets Tuesday night by defeating a former state delegate from a prominent family, winning the Republican Party nomination for the 83rd District House of Delegates seat by just 28 votes, according to unofficial election results.
Tim Anderson earned 1,477 votes, compared to 1,449 for former state Del. Chris Stolle, the presumed favorite who was seeking to reclaim the House seat he lost in 2019, according to results posted on the state’s Department of Election’s website.
Phil Kazmierczak, a real estate broker, came in third with 147 votes, according to the state.
Stolle, who has three siblings who are elected officials in Virginia, held the seat for a decade until he was voted out in 2019. He lost that race by a similar margin — 27 votes.
Stolle did not return messages seeking comment. But his campaign manager offered a written statement Wednesday morning that said Stolle has not ruled out requesting a recount.
“Chris is certainly used to close races, and he will respect the result, but it is only appropriate to wait for a canvass to be completed to make sure no errors were made, and then potentially look at a recount,” Diego Rebollar, Stolle’s campaign manager, said in a statement on Wednesday morning.
When reached by phone on Tuesday, Anderson said his win felt surreal.
“I have never run for office and the opponent is a very well-liked former delegate,” Anderson said. “Everybody who knew everything about politics told me there was no chance I was going to beat him.”
Anderson will challenge Del. Nancy Guy, a Democrat, in November to represent the district that spans from Oceanview in Norfolk to northwestern Virginia Beach.
“Chris and I ideologically agreed on most issues,” Anderson said. “Nancy Guy and I agree on practically nothing.”
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In 2019, Guy was elected to the General Assembly for the first time when she beat Stolle. The race went to a recount and Guy’s win was confirmed.
Anderson, 46, who also owns a gun shop, led an effort last year to recall state Sen. Louise Lucas after he accused her of inciting a riot during a demonstration at Portsmouth’s Confederate monument. Lucas has sued him for defamation. Anderson is also representing State Sen. Amanda Chase in a federal lawsuit requesting a judge to toss out a censure from the General Assembly.
Anderson has raised $86,625, but he lags behind Guy’s $258,517 war chest, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
The Virginia Beach Republican Party Chair Bill Curtis has said the district would be well represented by any of the candidates.
“Tim’s lead, however so slight, reflects a desire for change,” Curtis said. “The situation in Richmond demands direct action, and voters believe Tim has the requisite energy to initiate positive change and hold the General Assembly accountable.”
Alissa Skelton, 757-995-9043, alissa.skelton@pilotonline.com