The Attorney General of Virginia is an executive office in the Government of Virginia. The position is consiered the third highest of the three state government offices elected statewide. Attorneys General are elected for a four-year term in the year following a presidential election (2001, 2005, 2009, etc.). There are no term limits restricting the number of terms someone can serve as Attorney General. Bob McDonnell currently holds the position. McDonnell ran for the office in a November 2005 election against Democrat Creigh Deeds. Though the election was November 8, 2005, the results showed McDonnell had won by less than 400 votes out of 1.95 million cast. The close vote triggered an automatic recount, which took place on December 20. The recount simply revealed 37 more votes for McDonnell, confirming him as the Attorney General-Elect.