State and National Government
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democrats who have transformed Virginia at whiplash speed over the past two years will be defending their full control of the statehouse this fall. But first, they are trying to get an usually high number of House incumbents past primary challenges.
Fourteen House Democrats are spending and organizing against challenges from their own party this year, compared with only three Republican incumbents.
“Like somebody that drinks too many Red Bulls, too much energy is not always healthy for the party,” said Albert Pollard, a former Democratic House delegate who went on to say he thinks the “vast majority” of incumbents will hold on.
Several factors seem to be driving the surge in primary challengers, which is far higher this year than any other since at least 1999, according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project.
Some observers say it’s just an appealing time to be a Democratic candidate.
David Toscano, the former Democratic minority leader, said he “toiled in the wilderness for years trying to find good candidates” when the party’s membership was in the 30s out of 100 seats.
People thought they would have a hard time raising money or being competitive, he said. And then, even if they won, they would still be part of what at the time was a fairly powerless minority.
“Now the Democrats are in the majority, everybody wants to run,” he said.
In solidly blue northern Virginia in particular, a number of longtime officeholders – including the longest serving delegate, Ken Plum – are being challenged.
Some Democrats are facing challenges from the ideological left, though two of the chamber’s most progressive members, Del. Lee Carter and Del. Ibraheem Samirah, also have primary opponents.
“They’re learning what it’s like to be in power,” said Matt Moran, formerly the chief of staff for Republican House Speaker Kirk Cox. “No one is ever satisfied.”
A handful of delegates who are running in one of the three statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general without giving up their House seat have also created potential openings. For instance, Carter, who is making a bid for governor, has two opponents.
At least two Democratic challengers are getting a boost from Clean Virginia, the good governance and environmental advocacy organization founded by wealthy investor Michael Bills as a way to counter the influence of Dominion Energy.
In the Democratic-leaning 79th House District in Hampton Roads, Del. Steve Heretick, one of the caucus’ more centrist members, has two primary opponents, Dante’ Walston and community organizer and activist Nadarius Clark, who is being backed by Clean Virginia.
Clark, 26, wants to bring a more progressive perspective to Richmond. In an interview, he criticized Heretick’s votes against bills allowing localities to remove Confederate monuments, ending qualified immunity and banning assault weapons. The first passed; the others failed.
“This doesn’t sit well with me, and the district deserves a better choice,” Clark said.
Clark’s campaign manager, Sully Peterson-Quinn, said the campaign’s next finance reports will show Clark has raised over $500,000 in the last quarter, an eye-popping amount for a first-time candidate.
Heretick declined an interview request made through Kate Sarna, spokeswoman for the House Democratic Caucus.
Sarna, speaking generally, said the incumbents have “proven themselves” and their opponents haven’t shown an understanding of how they will pass effective legislation.
The state Senate, where Democrats have a more narrow majority, is not up for election this year.
Once the June 8 primary results are in, attention will turn to the November general election, where the stakes are enormous.
Democrats have passed transformative legislation over the past two years that’s made Virginia an outlier in the South. They’ve expanded voting access, loosened abortion restrictions, legalized marijuana, passed a clean energy mandate, repealed the death penalty and raised the minimum wage. Even if a Democrat were to win the race for governor, losing control of the House would make it far more difficult to pass priority legislation in a building where bipartisanship is rare.
In what’s seen as a sign of enthusiasm, both parties are contesting an unusually high number of seats. Democrats will be fielding a candidate in all 100 districts. Republicans say they’re hopeful to get close to that number. They currently have 96.
With only three incumbents to protect in the primary election, and with their slate of statewide candidates already settled in a May convention, Republicans have their eyes on the fall. They are hoping their unusually diverse field of both statewide and House candidates and a backlash against single-party control in Washington will power them to a win.
GOP Del. Emily Brewer, the caucus’ deputy campaign chair, said her recruiting efforts were made easier by the Democrats’ agenda, particularly what she called a soft-on-crime approach to criminal justice, and schools that were virtual for most of the past year.
“Kids not being in schools really put a toll on the family unit and (was) probably the hardest on mothers. So I think that’s why we have a record number of women running,” she said.
Come September, Pollard said, Virginia is going to look like the final scene of “Braveheart,” where two opposing armies line up for battle.
“It’s going to be hand-to-hand combat,” he said. “I give the edge to Democrats.”
We’ve heard about some of the Democrats running for Governor already – today we’ll learn more about a candidate from another part of Virginia and hear the latest from a former Governor seeking another term. WFIR’s Ian Price has this “Longer Listen” on gubernatorial candidates Delegate Lee Carter and Former Governor Terry McAuliffe.
Delegate Lee Carter and former Governor Terry McAuliffe are two of the five Democrats seeking to represent the party in the November election against GOP gubernatorial nominee Glenn Younkin.
US Senator Tim Kaine
A procedural vote could be taken today in the US Senate today regarding the establishment of a bi-partisan commission to investigate the January 6th Capitol riot. It was approved in the House, but its fate in the Senate is unclear, as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
Courtesy of US Senate Historical Office
Former Senator John Warner was always a Republican, but he sometimes faced criticism from within the GOP for votes on issues that included gun-control. He turned back a primary challenge running re-election in 1996. After leaving the Senate, he often endorsed Democrats. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
Warner passed away Tuesday at age 94.
Courtesy of US Senate Historical Office
Democratic U.S. Senator Tim Kaine says he is stunned by the loss of former Virginia Republican U.S. Senator John Warner, who died last night at the age of 94. Kaine says Warner and his father-law, Linwood Holton built the Virginia Republican Party from irrelevance into a formidable force, competed against one another in the 1978 Virginia Senate race, and always found time for new projects and humorous reminiscence.
(The full statement from U.S. Senator Tim Kaine’s office can be read below:)
WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the passing of former U.S. Senator John Warner:
“I am stunned at the loss of John Warner. Virginia has lost an unmatched leader, and my family has lost a dear friend.
“John Warner and my father-in-law, Linwood Holton, interrupted their college studies to join the Navy during World War II. Each served in the Pacific theatre, and they met when they returned to Washington and Lee at the close of the war. Their fraternity brother days started a friendship that lasted 75 years. Lin and John worked together, built the Virginia Republican Party from irrelevance into a formidable force, competed against one another in the 1978 Virginia Senate race, and always found time for new projects and humorous reminiscence.
“When I married Anne in 1984, I entered the large circle of John’s friends. From his thirty-year post in the Senate, he helped me as Mayor and Governor again and again. In particular, I will never forget his advocacy that helped save the Metro Silver Line from the brink of extinction. His advice on matters large and small (mostly solicited but occasionally offered even though I hadn’t asked!) was always farsighted, patriotic, and delivered in pithy and memorable phrases.
“Once I came to the Senate, I understood even more deeply the influence of John Warner. I came to know John McCain, Carl Levin, and so many others who served with him and attested to his integrity and outsized influence in a body he loved so dearly. In particular, John’s service in the Navy during World War II, as a Marine during the Korean War, and as Secretary of the Navy, made him a steady hand as Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. And in this new chapter in my life, John’s advice again became essential.
“I consider it a deep honor to represent Virginia on the Armed Services Committee as John did, and I often think of him during Armed Services deliberations, wondering how he would handle the dilemmas of the day. Shortly after I was elected to my first term, I asked John to lunch in the Senate Dining Room. He hadn’t been in many years. When he walked into the room, the place absolutely lit up, and a steady stream of Senators and Senate staff made a path to the table to visit with a person they loved so much.
“John and I once talked about how the Senate of today was more partisan and less relationship-based than during his years of service. But at the end of our conversation, he told me: ‘But Tim, it’s not in the water supply or sick building syndrome. It’s in the character and priorities of the people who walk into the building every day. So you have a chance to walk into the Capitol and make it better each day.’
“Not having John Warner to go to for advice leaves a big hole in my life. But we can all celebrate a public servant who stood on principle, made us proud, and exemplified the best of what politics can be.
“My condolences go out to Jeanne and the entire Warner family.”
Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor Andria McClellan is a Norfolk City Council member, and one of six candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor in the June 8th primary. She stopped by the studio earlier this week and spoke with WFIR’s Gene Marrano – here is a “Longer Listen.”
Speaking live on WFIR this morning, the Republican Party candidate for Virginia Attorney General – Jason Miyares – said its ok to hold “two truths” when it comes to the issue of police officers and the use of excessive force – and those that line up squarely behind law enforcement. Miyares also said the Republican statewide ticket should appeal to some moderate Democrats. Hear the full-length conversation from this morning below:
Gov Northam – G Marrano photo
(from Governor’s office) Governor Ralph Northam will lead an international trade and marketing mission to Europe from May 15–21, 2021. He will be accompanied by Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball and representatives from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. The Governor and his delegation will visit Germany, Greece, and Switzerland, and participate in 15 meetings over the course of the mission.
(AP) Former Del. Winsome Sears led a field of six candidates seeking the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in Virginia after a first round of balloting in a GOP nominating convention [today]. Sears served a single term representing parts of Hampton Roads in the House of Delegates, when she became the first Black Republican woman to serve in the General Assembly after her election in 2001. She now lives in the Winchester area.
After a first round of ballots was counted Tuesday, Sears led with 32%, followed by former Fairfax County Del. Tim Hugo with 23% and Virginia Beach Del. Glenn Davis at 20%. More than 30,000 delegates cast ballots Saturday at what the party is calling an unassembled convention. Delegates ranked the candidates from first choice to last on the ballots they submitted.