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Incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman easily turned back a challenge from the right to win the Republican nomination in Tuesday's primary.

Wittman swept every locality in the district, winning about 88 percent of the vote, according to unofficial totals.

The 1st District was the first of five primary elections to be called last night, as Wittman won by the largest margin. He was the only incumbent congressman in Virginia to face a primary challenge.

In the 5th District, Robert Hurt won the Republican nomination against six other Republicans who said Hurt wasn't conservative enough. He'll face Rep. Tom Perriello, a one-term Democratic congressman.

In the 11th District, Keith Fimian beat Pat Herrity to challenge Rep. Gerry Connelly; in the 2nd District, Scott Rigell beat five other candidates to challenge Rep. Glenn Nye; and in the 8th District, Patrick Murray beat Matthew Berry to run against Rep. Jim Moran.

Wittman defeated Catherine Crabill, a challenger who focused her campaign on constitutional issues.

Crabill, who last year ran for the 99th House of Delegates seat, won 12 percent of the vote. Turnout for the election was about 6.6 percent in the district.

Wittman will now face Democratic candidate Krystal Ball in November's general election.

In a statement last night, Wittman accused Ball of having "already resorted to the negative campaigning and distortion of the facts that people resent."

Wittman ran on his record, but tailored his message somewhat toward the anti-incumbent mood, focusing his message on issues like cutting federal spending and limiting governmental power.

"Voters want common-sense conservative leadership based on fiscal responsibility, smaller government and job creation," Wittman said in a statement. "As this campaign moves forward, I will run on the work I have done for the 1st District of Virginia. I will also run on my record, which clearly demonstrates the vast differences between my position on the issues and those of the majority party, who have manned the store during this period of out of control government spending, record deficits and soaring unemployment."

Crabill had appealed to some voters who are frustrated with Washington, saying that many in office have violated their oath to uphold the Constitution and are guilty of treason.

Wittman acknowledged that there was an anti-Washington mood among voters.

"I think people out there are very, very frustrated with what's going on in Washington," he said Tuesday. "They want to see certain things get done, they want to see a government that spends less, they want to see a government that's less intrusive and more thoughtful about what it does."

Wittman believes he was able to win over many such voters. He said he met with tea party and patriot groups to talk about his record and assure them he shares their concerns about reining in spending and resisting federal government encroachment.

"We put out in front of them the things that we have done, the voting record," Wittman said. "They're everyday, average Americans who are very frustrated with what's going on.I do think some of them were supportive of us."

Chelyen Davis: 540/368-5028
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com