Former Virginia congressional candidate Tina Ramirez joined FOX & Friends First to discuss key outcomes from election night and why she believes Republicans would have been more successful focusing on kitchen-table issues. A controversial far-left prosecutor in Virginia who’s received enormous backing from liberal billionaire George Soros has been defeated despite significantly outspending her opponent.
Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj, whom Soros has backed with nearly $1 million since 2019, lost to her Republican opponent, Bob Anderson, by 300 votes in a race that wrapped up counting its remaining ballots from last week’s election on Tuesday evening, Fox 5 DC reported.
“This is the closest Commonwealth’s Attorney’s race in Loudoun history. Following the canvass process, Buta trails by just 300 votes out of more than 136,000 votes cast,” Shannon Sankey, Biberaj’s campaign manager, told the Fox affiliate. “This 0.22% deficit puts our campaign well within the margin for a recount in Virginia. Our campaign is reviewing the results and we expect to make a decision shortly on our next steps. Buta remains committed to protecting democratic rights and ensuring that every Loudoun resident’s vote is counted.”
Anderson, who previously served in the position from 1996 to 2003, emerged victorious despite being significantly outspent by Biberaj. Virginia Public Access Project data shows that Biberaj dropped $1.1 million on the race – nearly 16 times more than the $70,356 Anderson had spent. Throughout the race, the progressive prosecutor received help from outside groups such as the Working Families Party National PAC and the Soros-backed Justice and Public Safety PAC.
Biberaj has been among the many nationwide candidates boosted by cash from Soros in his bid to overhaul the criminal justice system. Since 2019, the Justice and Public Safety PAC has spent $926,000 backing her candidacy, which has gone into ad buys, literature, and polling services. Between 2019 and 2022, Soros moved more than $2.4 million into the Justice & Public Safety PAC from his name and his Democracy PAC. The Soros-fueled PAC has also spent significant sums backing other Virginia prosecutor candidates in recent years, two of which handily won re-election last Tuesday, including the unopposed Parisa Dehghani-Tafti in Arlington County and Steve Descano in Fairfax County, who faced a write-in challenge but ultimately won by nearly 149,000 votes.
Biberaj’s office has repeatedly faced controversy since she started the job in 2020. Last year, she was hit with a bar complaint after a circuit court judge booted her office from a criminal case for “deliberately misleading the Court and the public.” A Virginia judge also dismissed Biberaj from an appeal case in 2022, citing “concerns” over “impartiality.” The case involved a Virginia father who was arrested while speaking out at a school board meeting after his daughter was sexually assaulted in a public school bathroom by a male student. Biberaj has also faced allegations of using her office to target political opponents and came under fire for hiring a convicted sex offender as a paralegal.
The defeat of Buta Biberaj despite her significant financial advantage and high-profile backing from George Soros highlights a shift in Virginia’s political landscape. This closely contested election raises questions about the effectiveness of progressive prosecutors and their controversial policies. Critics argue that Biberaj’s tenure was marred by allegations of misconduct and bias, further fueling concerns about the influence of big money in local elections.
While Democrats and liberal organizations continue to receive substantial financial support from prominent figures like George Soros, this defeat serves as a reminder that well-funded campaigns do not guarantee victory. Republicans like Bob Anderson have shown that grassroots support and a focus on kitchen-table issues can resonate with voters and overcome significant financial disadvantages.
As the political landscape in Virginia continues to evolve, the outcome of this election could have implications for the future of progressive prosecutors and the criminal justice system. With the margin of victory being so slim, there is a possibility of a recount, which will further highlight the importance of every vote.
The defeat of Buta Biberaj in Loudoun County has become a significant event in Virginia politics, capturing national attention. It will undoubtedly spark discussions about campaign finance, prosecutorial accountability, and the role of big money in shaping local elections. As the dust settles, both parties will closely examine the lessons learned from this race and strategize for future elections.
