Hocker keeps 38th District seat, cites roads funding and dredging project
Incumbent Rep. Gerald Hocker (R-38th) never wavered in Tuesday’s election against Democratic challenger Robert Maddex, winning handily with 72.3 percent of the vote. It was Hocker’s largest margin of victory in his two elections after winning the seat away from incumbent Democrat Shirley Price in the 2002 race, though it was still smaller than some had predicted against a relatively unknown challenger.
“I feel really good,” Hocker said as the results poured in about 9 p.m. on Tuesday. “It makes me feel that I’ve done my job, and I’m just so proud of my campaign team. We overwhelmingly won.”
Maddex, a longtime Democrat in Northern Virginia who now lives full-time in Fenwick Island, said he was not surprised by the result, citing the election as a gauge for Democrats facing a strong conservative base downstate.
“We certainly knew we had an uphill battle,” Maddex said Wednesday morning. “I congratulate my opponent on running a good campaign and wish him all the best in the next two years. Our strategy was to build the Democratic Party,” he added, “and my running was to see where we are and what more we have to do.”
Hocker cited his ability to bring promised roadway money to Sussex County (though the Route 26 project has been held up for years), to help get the Indian River bridge project on track and to be at the forefront on the Assawoman Canal dredging issue.
Dredging began at the beginning of last month, after a decade-long battle with environmentalists and other foes statewide. Hocker’s focus now will continue to be on the aforementioned issues, as well as worker’s compensation and healthcare reform, he said.
“For those 28 percent that didn’t vote for me, I have town meetings regularly,” Hocker said once the results were final. “If they’re not happy, come out to my meetings and I’ll answer their questions and take their concerns. I think that’s why I got 72 percent of the vote — because people know where I stand and why,” he added.
Hocker first gained the house seat in 2002, by beating Price by 57 votes. More than 8,000 people voted in that 2002 race. In 2004, Price attempted to regain her seat but was fended off by Hocker, who won more than 61 percent of the vote, tallying more than 7,600 votes.