Three incumbents who represent all or a part of Roanoke – Dels. Sam Rasoul and Joe McNamara along with Sheriff Antonio Hash – won re-election Tuesday night as challengers’ bids to convince voters otherwise were unsuccessful.

Democrats Rasoul and Hash rolled to re-election, both besting their opponents by more than 2-to-1 margins.

The race between McNamara, a Republican, and Democrat Donna Littlepage was close for a portion of the evening, before McNamara pulled away with 53 percent of the vote.

Results showed that anti-Israel comments made during the campaign by Rasoul about the war in Gaza – used to brand the incumbent as a “radical” by his independent opponent Maynard Keller – did not resonate with voters. Rasoul, an American-born Palestinian elected to the state House in 2014, represents the bluest district in western Virginia and he won re-election Tuesday night with almost 70 percent of the vote, according to uncertified totals. He campaigned on what he calls “the people’s platform,” which includes lowering health care costs and supporting a Green New Deal, the socio-emotional health of our children, raising teacher pay to the national average and limiting special interests.

Rasoul won 15 of 17 precincts – and still has a chance to win all of them based on the final count of votes in the coming days.

“It is validating,” he said during an interview at a Democratic gathering at the L.H. Hamlar Event Center.

Speaking to the crowd of several hundred earlier in the evening, Rasoul said he’s buoyed by the Democratic performance statewide.

“If you want to talk about defense number one against the dictator in chief in Washington, it’s got to come through us in Richmond,” he said.

McNamara, first elected to the House in 2018, won again in a historically red district that includes Salem, a chunk of Roanoke County and three precincts in Roanoke. He campaigned on his practical outlook of finding ways to help reduce the financial burden on constituents. He said he still has the passion to serve and is looking forward to another term.

He could not be reached for comment late Tuesday night.

In what was the testiest race of the three, Hash won his second term, besting Republican James Creasy, who retired from his sheriff’s office job in August to campaign full time. Creasy started the race by filing a formal complaint alleging Hash was misusing his office for political gain. Commonwealth’s Attorney Don Caldwell looked into the matter and determined there was nothing to investigate.

Hash, meanwhile, campaigned on his public service focus.

Amid cheers Tuesday night at the Hamlar Center, Hash said his campaign didn’t need to “sling mud.” He thanked numerous sheriff’s office staff who were on stage with him for their support and for “not stabbing me in my back.”

“We trusted the process,” he said.

Hash won the race with 67 percent of the vote, according to Tuesday’s results.

Three other Democratic city constitutional officers were also elected Tuesday after running unopposed this year: Commissioner of Revenue Ryan LaFountain, Commonwealth’s Attorney John McNeil (who will succeed Caldwell), and Treasurer Tasha Burkett.

City residents interviewed at the polls Tuesday gave numerous reasons for voting, from the state electing its first woman governor to the importance of free elections in a democracy.

Beth Williams, who said she teaches English and once taught civics, voted at Highland Park Elementary.

“I think it’s important for everybody to do their civic duty, exercise their right to vote, and demonstrate and show what they’re not happy with in the government right now,” she said. “Yeah, you know, a power to the people kind of thing.”