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Kissell ready to begin legislative career

James Nix / jnix@independenttribune.com

Larry Kissell congratulated by supporters after he was elected to the N.C. 8th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, unseating incumbent Robin Hayes Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.. Kissell's held a results viewing party at J.F.'s Kitchen in Biscoe.

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By Josh Lanier | Independent Tribune

Published: November 4, 2008

BISCOE, N.C. - Larry Kissell (D) said his win Tuesday for North Carolina's 8th District over incumbent Rep. Robin Hayes (R) was due to people's faith.

"People were willing to listen to an ex-textile worker. People were willing to listen to a teacher," he said. "So tonight the victory goes to them."

Kissell spoke to about 70 supporters, family members and press at a results party held at J.F. Kitchen's, a small wood-paneled building owned by J.F. Allen, a Democratic supporter who donated the building for the event. Kissell took the district by a 10-point margin — 55 to 45 percent, as of midnight.

Kissell watched the results with staffers at a nearby campaign headquarters. When he entered the building with his staff, the crowd exploded with cheers.

Tami Vogel, a Charlotte volunteer for Kissell since 2005, said Tuesday election results were vindication after the close 329-vote loss the Democratic challenger had in 2006.

"It's been a long time coming, and a lot of people worked really hard for this win," she said. "People realized after the 2006 race that Larry was someone who was really going to represent the district well."

Vogel credited Kissell's strong ground game of knocking on doors was what won voters to Kissell's platform, which was steeped in improving energy, the economy and education.

Early results had Kissell up by huge margins, but most of that was driven by the large turnout of Democrats who had early voted days before. Hayes continued to chip away at the lead throughout the night but never overcame Kissell's lead.

Hayes still proved strong in Cabarrus County, his home county, which he won 57 to 43 percent, but he only carried three out of the 10 counties in the district.

Those gathered at the event cheered as the results trickled in. As Kissell won county after county, supporters celebrated and clapped wildly.

Natalie Blake, 24, who worked on Kissell's failed 2006 bid for the seat, watched Tuesday's results with friends and fellow supporters.

Blake said the momentum from 2006 through this election was what helped propel Kissell into the spotlight and into the U.S. House of Representatives.

"When I was calling people earlier today, people knew who Larry Kissell was and that was what really helped him through," Blake said. "The money from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee helped, but it was that personal connection that really made the difference."

Kissell's win was a night punctuated by major Democratic victories in North Carolina with Kay Hagan ousting Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Bev Perdue winning the gubernatorial race over Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.

After the event, Kissell said he was ready to begin his legislative career.

"I've made a lot of promises that I plan to keep," he said. "These people fought so hard for me to represent them and I'm ready to go to Washington and fight for them."

• Contact reporter Josh Lanier: 704-789-9144