ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Republican Barbara Comstock has defeated Democrat John Foust in the race to succeed the retiring dean of Virginia’s congressional delegation.

Comstock, a three-term delegate from McLean, is a former aide to Republican Frank Wolf, who’s held the seat since 1981. She campaigned as his natural successor and promised to bring a bipartisan approach to the job.

Foust, though, attacked her political history and called her a hyper-partisan who made her name in Washington as an opposition researcher digging up dirt on Bill and Hillary Clinton.

The 10th District race had been closely watched because it was an open seat in a district that has voted for Democrats and Republicans in presidential elections.

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