Virginia Still Tallying Governor’s Race

RICHMOND, Va. — An elections official said Monday that her staff will go over returns “with a fine-toothed comb” before certifying the outcome of the governor’s race, in which Democatic Lt. Gov. L. Douglas Wilder apparently defeated Republican J. Marshall Coleman.

Susan Fitz-Hugh, secretary of the electoral board, said the state’s 136 localities have finished canvassing the Nov. 7 balloting for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, the House of Delegates and local offices and referenda.

Wilder, who would be the first black to be elected governor, leads Coleman, a former attorney general, by a few thousand votes.

Final returns obtained from local registrars Monday showed 897,125 votes for Wilder to 890,273 for Coleman, a difference of 6,852 out of 1.78 million votes cast. Returns from three counties had not yet been verified. Coleman has said he will ask for a recount if Wilder’s lead of less than 0.5% holds up.