Fourth District Circuit Court Judge Michael McHaney of Salem has won the Republican primary to become a Justice on the Appellate Court at Mt. Vernon.
While a final vote tally wast yet available, appointed appellate court justice Barry Vaughn has conceded the race to McHaney.
“One word that comes to mind above anything else is ‘humbling’. I’ve never been more humble than I am right now. I want to thank Justice Vaughn for the campaign he ran. I look forward to learning from him and I just to thank so much the voters and those who supported us that donated their time and their money. It was a great victory for we the people.”
McHaney credits the victory to his hard-working team in each of the 48 counties making up the Fifth District of the Appellate Court and a desire for change.
“I believe the voters are fed up. I think this was their message to the establishment that we’re going to take our state back and we’re going to take our country back and we’re going to do it one race, one election, and one case at a time.”
With incomplete votes from five counties, McHaney was up 20,000 votes.
McHaney will now face Democrat Brian Roberts in the November general election.
