Mount Vernon Votes in Primaries Tuesday

The polls were quiet in Mount Vernon early Tuesday morning. 

As of 7:30 a.m., election officials at Washington Mill Elementary School saw 33 voters out of 4400 registered voters in the Westgate precinct. 

"It's a little slow, but that's to be expected," election chief Rosemary Jellish told Patch. 

Meanwhile, at Woodley Hills Elementary School, 27 out of 3,037 registered voters turned out to vote as of 7:45 a.m.

Former senator and Gov.  and wife  greeted voters Tuesday morning at Washington Mill Elementary School, a precinct near their home in Mount Vernon.

Allen stopped to chat with Patch: “Well, our goal obviously is to win and the bigger the turnout the better," he said. "I think most people recognize that the larger the turnout the stronger it’ll be for us. We have a lot of support through Virginia because people know me.

"I had the honor of serving Virginians in the U.S. Senate, as well as governor, and I know the communities and the people, and that’s not something that’s easily done just in a year of campaigning," Allen said. "We have good friendships and relationships throughout Virginia, so the bigger the turnout, the better it’ll be for us. We’re cautiously optimistic.”

Allen faces competition in today's Republican primary for the U.S. Senate from three challengers: tea party member , minister  and state Del.  of Prince William County. 

The Allens voted at their precinct and plan to visit other precincts around Northern Virginia today before heading to a rally in Richmond tonight to await results of the primary.

The winner will face Democrat Tim Kaine, also a former governor of Virginia. The Senate seat is currently occupied by Sen. Jim Webb, who announced his retirement last year from the Senate.

8th Congressional District Sees Democratic Primary Today

With boundary changes, Mount Vernon is now completely in the 8th congressional district, which is seeing a Democratic primary today between incumbent Congressman and newcomer

Just past 6 a.m. today, political newcomer , a candidate for the 8th congressional district, was one of the first voters to cast a ballot in the Democratic primary at the Madison Community Center precinct in North Arlington.

Shuttleworth, an Arlington resident, is running against incumbent Rep. , 8th District, to represent Northern Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives. He said he is ready for a general election campaign. 

"We'd be completely energized for that," Shuttleworth said. "I'm up for that challenge."

Shuttleworth, with his wife Divonne, will campaign in Alexandria and Arlington today.

In South Arlington, Moran voted at 6 a.m. at the Arlington County Division of Parks and Natural Resources in Shirlington.

Is Moran nervous going into the primary? "I always worry and it keeps me energized," he told Patch. "I'm never complacent about anything, and for something that's worth it like this it is worth working hard for and not being taken for granted."

Moran said he will remain in Congress for at least two more years.

"It's a good question. I do feel very much invested in the community and I'll have to be convinced there is somebody in the running with my sense of values and vision. I can't turn it over to someone who doesn't have proven involvement in the community. That's the test, really." 

Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille, who is seeking reelection to a third term expressed interest in Moran's seat, should it come up for grabs.

"I would like to run for Jim Moran's seat when he gives that up, but I don't know when that is going to be," he told Patch from the Virginia Democratic State Convention on June 2, 2012.