"Emily Couric and area Democrats filled the Charlottesville Omni Hotel with cheers of celebrations and tears of joy last night after Couric's victory in the 25th state Senate district.

Couric won the seat with 50 percent of the vote according to the Associated Press. These results were tabulated with 96 percent of the precints in the district reporting results. Incumbent Republican Edgar S. Robb won 45 percent of the vote, Independant candidate Donal Day won 4 percent and Libertarian candidate Eric Strzepek won 1 percent.

"We've worked very hard for this night," Couric said during a speech after her win. "The time has come to put partisan politics aside and to think about good government.

"Our hope and our vision began with a campaign that sprouted and grew beyond our imagination," she said. "Now we will take that hope and vision to Richmond."

Close to 300 Couric supporters took advantage of the free open bar in the conference room and drank to her words. They said they could not be more pleased that she won.

"She was the best candidate," Couric campaign worker Aaron Deppers said. "I didn't really know who Emily was when I began working on this campaign, but now I know she'll be a great senator."

Couric arrived at the Omni ballroom at about 9:20 p.m. after entertaining family and close friends in her suite upstairs. But her enthused fans crowded the room for hours before to wait for election results to come in. As the vote count from each precinct was announced, the group cheered and burst into chants of "Emily! Emily!"

"You have to be here," said Susan Payne, wife of U.S Congressman L.F Payne, D-Va., who could not attend. "Everyone is very excited. I went around with Emily today, and everywhere we went we had a very warm reception."

The crowd included both young and old and was entertained by the Wayne Gentry Band. Most left the hotel soon after Couric's speech. Some said they would move the celebration to other locations in the area because they were too excited to sleep after the win.

Although many had predicted the race as too close to call before last night, Couric and her supporters were optimistic she would win even before the final results were announced.

"It looks like Emily is going to win," Charlottesville Mayor David J. Toscano said early in the evening. "I'm glad the city pulled through for her."

Couric said she thought a lot about the close race during the last week of the campaign.

"Everyone who runs for office contemplates winning and losing," she said. "I'm very pleased that I won."

She added the first item on her agenda as state senator will be to thank personally all the people who helped her with her campaign. Couric estimated about 300 volunteers worked for her during the last few months.

"It was remarkable how many people volunteered for this campaign," Deppers said. "I came on in August and we already had a lot of people. That's pretty early in the campaign."

Other local politicians were also at the Omni awaiting their own race results and congratulating Couric.

"You kept your promise to me by giving me someone to talk to in Richmond," said Del. Mitch Van Yahres, D-Charlottesville who appeared to have won his race against Republican write-in candidate Sharon Jones. Her votes will not be counted until tommorow.

"The best part is that she is winning in [Virginia Gov. George] Allen's home district," Van Yahres said. "The question is what is going to happen across the state. We're going to cream" the Republicans.

After her speech, Couric took time to shake hands with all her supporters and thank them for attending the event. She took a break from her fans to talk with Robb and Strzepek.

Both made the trek from their own headquarters in Charlottesville to congratulate Couric on her win.

"It's the first time in my 58 years that I've been at the Democratic headquarters," Robb said. "You look just like everyone else."

Former 25th-District state Sen. Tom Michie, who was ousted by Robb in 1992, said he was extremely happy that Couric won the race and brought the district back under Democratic leadership.

"The guy was not appropriate to be in the senate," Michie said of Robb." (Kate Kofteci, The Cavalier Daily, November 8, 1995)