RICHMOND — A veteran Republican state legislator from Virginia’s rural Southside region has filed to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello’s bid for a second term.

WASHINGTON-Tom Perriello’s upset win in Virginia’s fifth congressional district showed the power of combining charity work with politics.

Democrat Tom Perriello of Ivy was certified as the winner Monday in his race against six-term incumbent Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-Rocky Mount.

Democrat holds tenuous lead over Republican incumbent in 5th District

Democrat Tom Perriello has declared himself the winner in the hotly contested battle for Virginia’s 5th District congressional seat.

More than 3,000 surprise votes from Charlottesville gave Democratic congressional candidate Tom Perriello an unexpectedly wide lead Thursday in his race against six-term GOP incumbent U.S. Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-Rocky Mount.