That’s deceptive. The independent city of Roanoke is Democrat. But if Salem, Roanoke and Roanoke County were all united (as they would be in other states), Roanoke is Republican (combined total voted 54,000 to 48,000 in 2012 for Willard).
Sorry, VA’s independent cities are confusing to outsiders. But the state is moving heavily Dem. through the DC suburbs, which are impenetrable.