Is Virginia Rising or Falling?: Can Republicans Find A Way Back

The blame game is alive and well in Virginia. It was only a matter of time for blaming to go mainstream given the Republican Party of Virginia appears in complete disarray following the November elections last Fall.

The Virginia GOP has been in a virtual tailspin for over a decade now. Some would argue even a freefall. Virginia has been turning "bluer" in the last decade not unlike the very same occurrance experienced in Maryland over a decade ago. Only difference is Maryland has elected a Republican Governor the last two election cycles whereas Virginia has failed to elected a Republican Governor since 2009.

Isn't it time Republicans all across the Commonwealth begin to address why that is? How is it liberal leaning states like Maryland, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire have elected Republican Governors and Virginia has been unable to since 2009?

A decade is a lifetime in politics. The Democratic Party of Virginia successfully managed to capture and leverage social media in its opposition to Virginia Republicans. The Virginia GOP failed to invest appropriately in the infrastructure required and rested on the fact that Virginia had supported Republicans for decades. The Virginia GOP became convinced it could weather any storm when it won the Governorship in 2009 the year after President Obama was elected in 2008.

Yet how many outside the political historian community has examined how that 2009 victory came to be? How was the messaging so different and appeal so broad that Governor Bob McDonnell earned almost 59% at the polls? And how subsequent candidates have earned on average 10-12 points less than McDonnell at the polls?

It really comes down to outcomes and lessons. The lessons of the last decade are in plain sight but far to many continue to blame others instead of examining the truth.

Virginia has a knack for going against the national election trends. 2013 was one of the cycles in which Virginia elected a Democratic Governor while there was a sitting Democratic President. Typically voters in Virginia elect the opposite party from the one in the White House. Many see it as a hedge but it proves just how broad the "middle" truly is in Virginia and how it is the real force that determines victory in Virginia and not the extremes.

Have Republicans stopped talking to independents and moderate centrists who care very little for legislating morality? It appears so.

Any political scientist will tell you that Virginia is a solid "blue" state based on statewide elections. That however does not mean of course that Virginia is not still a mostly "conservative" state in large portions of the Commonwealth. The issue facing Virginia Republicans is an inability to win in  suburban Virginia where population has exploded the last decade.

The election of President Obama in 2008 brought sweeping changes to the ground game for Virginia Democrats. Democrats made inroads into the suburban communities that were long held by Republicans. New voter registrations and an appeal to suburban families has continued with the overwhelming political movement centered around healthcare. Republicans on the federal level managed to cede healthcare to the Democrats even when many aspects of the Democratic initiatives mirrored former Republican positions. The result was devastating to the Republican Party of Virginia.

The eelction results demonstrate that following the election of President Obama, the majority of statewide races have been won in Virginia by Democrats securing over fifty percent of the vote. Some will argue that the election of 2013 was the real turning point given it broke the trend of electing the opposite party into the Virginia Executive than the controlling party of the White House. Historically speaking the Virginia Republicans should have won the election in 2013 and some have argued that had that occurred than in all likelihood most of the elections that followed would have been influenced to the advantage of Republicans.

Victory however alluded Virginia Republicans in 2013 and many political pundits blamed the third party candidate Robert Sarvis (L) who earned 6.52%  or Lt. Governor Bill Bolling (R) for the Demcoratic victory. This however is very simplistic at its core as the real issue that drove the election of 2013 away from the grasp of Republicans was the very fact that many fiscal and libertarian conservatives reject the social conservativism that is very prevalent on the far right within the Republican Party of Virginia. This coupled with the fallout between Lt. Governor Bill Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli sealed the Republican fate in 2013. Bolling to this day is villified by many social conservatives and even now in 2020 was recently targeted by the campaign manager of State Senator Amanda Freeman Chase(R) running for Governor in 2021 in a clear attempt to re-open old wounds to advance the campaign's own agenda.

State Senator Chase was a staunch supporter of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in  2013 before moving on to supporting Representative David Brat (R) in the 7th Congressional District campaign and later would challenge State Senator Steve Martin (R) of the Virginia 11th in a primary.  Chase has made a reputation for herself as being loose with the facts and quick with the blame when its comes to political posturing.

Recently, Senator Chase claimed on facebook that Govenror Ralph Northam (D) was vacationing during the pandemic crisis in Manteo, NC. Chase in yet another clear attempt at a "gotcha moment" informed her followers that she had been provided evidence from law enforcement as to Northam's travels and stays in North Carolina. Chase never managed to provide any such evidence and many have clamored on social media that the evidence Chase alluded to never actually existed. Chase routinely uses her offcial page as a platform for conspiracy theories and misleading information regarding matters pertaining to Northam or the pandemic. Chase emersed herself and her followers in the two month long "Recall Northam" saga that never materialized. The media characterized the effort as yet another one of the various political stunts orchestrated by Chase to elevate her profile outside her district.

Chase called on all Virginians to join her in Richmond on May 6, 2020 to "Re-Open Virginia" and stated that Governor Ralph Northam (D) had "overstepped his authority by imposing restrictions" yet refused to elaborate specifically how the Governor has overstepped or violated the trust of Virginians in executing the duties of his office with regard to public safety. One thing is clear however and that is Chase has apparently done a complete one eighty with regard to mask wearing in Virginia.

Chase seen here at her "Re-Open Virginia " rally in Richmond earlier this month wears a mask and gloves yet just weeks later fails to wear a mask nor follows the social distancing mandate of remaining six feet apart while participating in a subsequent event called the "Great American Tailgate". A week or so later Chase was condemed Governor Northam for not wearing masks while visiting Virginia Beach. At the time of course there was no mandatory mask order in place. The mask mandate actually goes into effect today May 29, 2020. Chase deemed it appropriate to wear mask and gloves early in May but clearly has since changed her position given her lack of any masks, gloves or social distancing in Petersburg while attending an organized event.

Recent polling by Virginia Commonwealth University reveals that the majority (76%)of Virginians polled believe Northam has done an effective job managing the crisis in Virginia as reported by the Daily Progress here:
https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/state/vcu-poll-76-of-virginians-approve-of-northams-response-to-pandemic/article_9e5a0ec8-b8e3-571f-8686-c68dbc24650b.html

This is not a very good sign for Senator Chase or the Republican Party of Virginia should it chose to nominate Chase next year. Chase has repeatedly challenged just about every thing Northam has enacted in response to the crisis. The majority of suburban families are following the mandates prescribed not only by Northam but by the CDC while it is apparent that Chase is leading the charge in opposing such efforts. The question remains why did Chase flip flop on masks and social distancing? Chase determined to wear masks and gloves just weeks ago and now has shifted her position and ignored both masks and social distancing. So the question remains is this simply yet another "stunt" by Chase given Northam has now mandated mask wearing. Chase wore the masks before they were "mandated" but now refuses to wear them because they are now "mandated" by Northam appears to be the message.

State Senator Amanda Freeman Chase (R) with Tim Anderson taking part in the "Great American Tailgate" held in Petersburg, Va.

State Senator Amanda Freeman Chase (R) in Olde Town Petersburg

The Republican Party of Virginia leadership has largely remained quiet during the crisis however it has released statements from time to time expressing its position regarding measures that Northam has enacted. That being said the simple fact is Senator Chase has attempted to take the oxygen away from fellow Republicans by pressing forward with what appears to be very divisive positions for the suburbs and suburban women especially. This should raise alarm bells for all Virginia Republicans.

While many in the Republican Party of Virginia have recognized the shift underway in Virginia there are still those like Chase and her social conservative right that fail to grasp that Virginia no longer is the Virginia of the 1990's and the demographics have shifted. The suburban and urban areas are less attracted to the very issues that leaders like Chase are advocating especially when it comes to opposing equal justice  and equal rights for all Virginians regardless of religious beliefs, national origin, identity, gender, race, creed etc. Many voters see Chase as nothing more than an extension of the 1990's wrapped up in a "morality police"  platform where public policies should be determined by religious convictions---Christian-only convictions that are more closely associated with Pentecostalism or evangelical positions than the belief sytems of the majority of Virginians.

So while many see the Republican opposition in Virginia as in a state of "RISING" there are those who also see the future of the Republican Party of Virginia  "FALLING" further into the minority. In 2019 the Republicans lost control of the Virginia General Assembly after refusing to hold Governor Northam accountable for his "blackface" scandal while the Virginia GOP controlled the majority. No hearings and no investigations into the matter were ever undertaken. One could argue the merits of the political calculations made to not pursue any inquiry but the result ultimately was a sound defeat in November at the polls.

The Virginia GOP has a real opportunity in 2020-21 should it decide to embrace it. Republicans must determine to stop nominating unelectable candidates statewide and rebuild the trust it once had with suburban voters. It will not be successful in enagement efforts if it choses to continue to repeat the same mistakes of the past and deny the ground that is before them. The Virginia GOP must work in coordination to recruit and listen to Virginians seeking less morality messaging and more family-centric, education, healthcare, lower taxes and ecomomic messaging.

These results depict the net result of poor focus and messaging in Virginia by Republicans:

2008-Obama (D) 53%

2008 Sen. Mark Warner (D) 65%

2009 Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) 59% Bolling (52%) Cuccinelli (57%)  

2012- Obama (D) 51%

2012- Sen. Tim Kaine (D)- 53%

2013- Gov. McAuliffe (D) 48%  Northam ( 55%) Herring (50%)

2014- Sen. Mark Warner (D) 49%

2016- Hillary Clinton (D) 50%

2017- Gov. Ralph Northam (D) 54%  Fairfax (53%)  Herring (53%)

2018- Senator Tim Kaine (D) 57%

2019- Loss of the majority in Virginia House of Delegates

2019- Loss of the majority in Virginia Senate

Whether Virginia is indeed "RISING" or "Falling" will continue to play out over the next election cycle. Some have pointed to some local success for Republicans this month as promising but many of those local elections were very small turnout results in the middle of the pandemic.

For Virginia Republicans have any real success moving forward,  the Virginia GOP must evolve and reshape its messaging or accept the fact that it will remain solely a "principled minority" for years to come.

                                                         https://www.facebook.com/TurnVARedAgain/

Libertarians Nominate Presidential Candidate in Historic Convention

The fastest growing politcial party in Virginia and one that most Americans still largely are unfamiliar has nominated its candidate for the 2020 Presidential Election this November.

The Libertarian Party has nominated Dr. Jo Jorgensen to run on the Libertarian ticket and did so in historic fashion earlier this month. While the other two major politcial parties appear in disarray over nominating conventions and alternative methods of nominations for Congressional races throughout much of the country, the Libertarian Party held an online nominating convention. This is what can happen when a party does not have layer upon layer of committee structure and burdensome red tape and can work in an efficient manner even in times like the pandemic. The online convention format undertaken by the Libertarian Party is the first ever for any political party in the United States.

Delegates to the Libertarian Convention met virtually from all over the country and were afforded the opportunity to learn more about not only the party platform but fabout all the potential nominees. Dr. Jorgensen holds a doctorate and currently is a lecturer at Clemson Univesity. Jorgensen attended both Baylor University and Southern Methodist University in Texas before earning her Ph.D from Clemson in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in 2002.

The countless era of big government and even bigger government programs coupled with the current pandemic crisis has elevated the Libertarian Party nationally. Long overlooked and often condemned by the other two parties as the "bastard stepchild" of the American political experience, the continued failures of the Democratic and Republican Parties to set realistic budgets and service debt has ultimately created an unsustainable spending programs contrinuting to massive deficits.

The word "deficit" is no longer a dirty word to either Demcoratic or Republican leaders in Washington. The second "stimulus" package will simply provide another example of spending programs that the governement will employ without having the ability to pay for or any expectation of servicing.

With over 23 trillion in debt and even more in unfunded liabilities, there appears little dicsussion any longer regarding debt and deficits in Washington. All those discussions over unfunded mandates and entitlement programs left the conversation when Paul Ryan (R) left Congress.

In Virginia the Libertarian Party continues to grow. The LPVA has often become the scorn of media and political pundits with like agendas given at times the Libertarian candidate  in Virginia has been depicted as the "spoiler" in previous election cycles.  Robert Sarvis (L) was a factor that many believed delivered both a U.S. Senate seat and a Governorship in Virginia to the Democratic Party.

Parties often like to blame others for its own failures at the polls.

Voters are constantly fed  the narratives that the two major political parties are "mainstream". This narrative implies any other organization like the Libertarians are outside the mainstream however most Libertarians consider themselves often taken for granted by the Republican Party of Virginia and moving forward such action very well may be their undoing.

Sarvis in his race for Virginia Governor back in 2013 earned 6.5% which constituted the largest percentage ever in such a race in Virginia. The arguments from the establishment will always be that Libertarian candidates "pull" support "away" from the other two parties  but this view merely exposes the underbelly of the entrenched nature of Virginia politics.

As long as the Republican Party refuses to address the morality over liberty driven social conservative nature of many of its nominees and candidates, Libertarians will run for offices and challenge Republicans for every single vote. Moderate and Constitutional Republicans often share more of the same values as Libertarians than they do social conservatives in Virginia. As it stands today, should the Republicans nominate State Senator Amanda Chase (R) for Governor one could certainly expect a Libertarian candidate in the 2021 Gubernatorial Race in Virginia.

Robert Sarvis stated as far back as 2012 :

 "I realized that the Republican Party, at least in Virginia, in the current era, is not a good vehicle for liberty candidates. Republicans are very strident on personal issues. When they talk about liberty, they don't mean any personal issues, there is very little respect for personal autonomy."

Jorgensen on the issues can be found here:
https://joj2020.com/issues-jo-jorgensen/
@JoforLiberty

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Governor Ralph Northam Forms Education Working Group: Path Forward for Schools

Governor Ralph Northam (D) of the Commonwealth of Virginia has formed a working group comprised of Virginia educators from the elementary and secondary sytems of both public and private schools as well as adminstrators, special needs and collegiate professionals.



The Education Work Group held its first meeting last month on April 23, 2020 to begin to explore ways that the Commonwealth can re-open schools for the upcoming school year. Northam's hope is the group can assist the Executive Branch with drafting a path forward and includes members from every region of the Commonwealth with varies levels of expertise.

Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni chairs the Education Work Group that will continue to meet throughout the crisis to address the issues that schools and colleges are facing in the current environment. One area that must be addressed is the disparity regarding broadband access between the suburban areas and the rural areas.
On March 23, 2020 Govvernor Northam (D) ordered all Virginia schools closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year after intially closing schools for two weeks. Both public and private schools throughout the Commonwealth complied with the order as well as most universites and collges. One university that would remain open following then order was Liberty University. Liberty just completed the semester with no COVID-19 cases on campus. The Virginia Health Department actually inspected the university after it refused to comply.

The ultimate goal of the group is to ensure a safe environment for the return on in-person education.

“As we make decisions about the path forward, this panel will help ensure that we are best supporting rural students, English language learners, students of color, and students with special needs. School closures have been necessary to protect health and safety, but lost class time has a disproportionate impact on Virginia’s most vulnerable and economically disadvantaged students. That’s why equity will remain at the forefront as we determine when and how we can safely and responsibly return to in-person learning.” (Gov. Northam)

Members of Virginia’s COVID-19 Education Work Group include:

Steering Committee

• Atif Qarni, Secretary of Education, Chair of COVID-19 Education Work Group
• Fran Bradford, Deputy Secretary of Education for Higher Education and Museums
• Peter Blake, Director, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
• Dr. James Lane, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Virginia Department of Education

Work Group Members

• Jenna Conway, Chief School Readiness Officer, Office of the Governor
• Holly Coy, Assistant Superintendent for Policy, Communications, and Equity, Virginia Department of Education
• Dr. Laurie Forlano, Deputy Commissioner for Population Health, Virginia Department of Health
• Jennifer O. Macdonald, Director, Division of Child and Family Health, Virginia Department of Health
• Dr. Lynn Clayton Prince, Director of Special Education, Powhatan County Public Schools and President-Elect, Virginia Council of Administrators of Special Education
• Pam Simms, Program Director, Gladys H. Oberle School
• Dr. Donna Henry, Chancellor, University of Virginia’s College at Wise and Chair, Council of Presidents in Virginia
• Dr. Michael Rao, President, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Taylor Reveley, President, Longwood University
• Dr. Makola Abdullah, President, Virginia State University
• Dr. Sharon Morrissey, Senior Vice Chancellor, Virginia Community College System
• Dr. John Downey, President, Blue Ridge Community College
• Dr. Eric Williams, Superintendent, Loudoun County Public Schools
• Dr. Jared Cotton, Superintendent, Chesapeake Public Schools
• Dr. Dennis Carter, Superintendent, Smyth County Schools
• Kathy Burcher, Representative, Virginia Education Association
• Melinda Bright, Representative, Virginia Education Association
• Dr. Travis Burns, Principal, Northumberland High School and President, Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals
• Dr. Andrew Buchheit, Principal, T. Clay Wood Elementary School and President, Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals
• Ann-Marie Ward, Council Treasurer, Virginia Parent Teacher Association
• Pamela Croom, President-Elect, Virginia Parent Teacher Association
• Teddy Martin II, Member, Henry County School Board and Regional Chair, Virginia School Boards Association
• Karen Corbett-Sanders, Chair, Fairfax County School Board
• Grace Creasey, Executive Director, Virginia Council for Private Education
• Robert Lambeth, President, Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia
• Dr. Larry Stimpert, President, Hampden-Sydney College
• Dr. Tiffany Franks, President, Averett University
• Dan Gecker, President, Virginia Board of Education
• Marianne Radcliff, Representative, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
• Jared Calfee, Executive Director, Virginia21
• Rich Conti, Director, Science Museum of Virginia
• Dr. Betty Adams, Executive Director, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center
• Ingrid Grant, Member, Governor’s African American Advisory Board
• Hyun Lee, Member, Governor’s Asian Advisory Board
• Diana Brown, Member, Governor’s Latino Advisory Board
• Ashley Marshall, Chair, Virginia Council on Women
• Shan Lateef, Rising Senior, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and Governor’s STEM Phenom Award Winner

More on Atif Qarni:

https://www.dawn.com/news/1275546

Virginia 7th Congressional District Convention Set

The Virginia Seventh Congressional District has determined to reschedule the VA7 nominating convention originally scheduled for April 25 at the The Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center in Richmond due to the pandemic crisis. The district committee also recently file lawsuit against Governor Ralph Northam's pandemic orders regarding gathering sizes that would prevent the convention from taking place in a normal manner.

The committee will have to determine alternative measures for nomination should the Governor continue to limit gatherings in the future months ahead. There appears little support for mail in or digital options in terms of balloting leaving only a drive thru option.

The committee has decided upon a July 18th date for the convention at Meadow Park Event Center in Doswell. Some members supported a June 20th date at Richmond Raceway. These members expressed the belief that  delaying another month would only benefit the Demcoratic incumbent Abigail Spanberger (D).

The current front runner appears a dead heat between Tina Ramirez and Nick Freitas. While Freitas appears to have the majority of the rural county delegates, Ramirez has amassed more suburban support as delegates in Chesterfield and Henrico Counties.

Spanberger won the suburban vote in Henrico by 18 points in 2018 and by 13 points in Chesterfield in 2018.


J. Scott

Young Republican Chapter Goes Rogue?:Virginia's 3rd Congressional District

                                     "I did nothing more than share his own words" 
                          (Jessi Rapelje, Chair of Western Tidewater Young Republicans)

                                                     "Its tough to see this" 
                        Thomas Turner, Chair of Young Republicans Federation Virginia


Young Republicans (YR) is a grassroots organization comprised of young, dedicated and engaged individuals age 18-40 that lead recruitment and volunteer efforts across the Commonwealth of Virgnia on behalf of the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) comprising some eighteen YR chapters.

"As Young Republicans, we believe it is time to set our standards higher for growing the Republican Party. Together, we will break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and build bridges in our efforts to reach out to a younger generation of voters. By raising our own expectations, we can promote our Republican nominees to victory, activate the next generation of Republican leadership, and strengthen the Republican Party in order to elevate Virginia to greater heights of prosperity, opportunity, and freedom" (Young Republican Federation of Virginia website)

 Nowhere are the words "activist" or "activism" in the stated goals above for the YRFV.

This is important given what is playing out in some areas of the Commonwealth with the Young Republicans. A few chapters appear to be morphing into mere extentions of  entities like Americans for Prosperity or Turning Point USA  both of which are true activist and advocacy groups. The role and the tactics undertaken by these groups messaging is not neccesarily in keeping with the traditions of the Young Republicans in either tone or rhetoric.

What exactly are the "standards" that the Young Republicans seek to elevate as a matter of discourse as it relates to Virginia political campaigns and primaries today? What is being witnessed today in the Virginia 3rd Congressional District (VA3) leaves many Virginians to question whether certain YR chapters have put their personal goals  (activism) and opinions above that of the Republican Party of Virginia. 

Does the kind of "activism" on display today reflect the core traditions, values and public perceptions that the Young Republicans and College Republicans have represented for decades past in Virginia? Obviously the new generations of YR's have the social media component to deal with that that many former YR's never had to deal with as they performed their functions as members. Social media creates an even larger burden on oversight by chapters.

The question of "activism" is a very important question that may shape the very future of the Young Republican auxillaries as some have called into question various chapter's methods as it relates to candidates on the Republican ballot in various primaries. 

If a Chapter Chair endorses a primary candidate or works against a candidate openly and publicly in a primary claiming they are doing so only as an "individual" can they really expect that their actions will not be associated as part of their role as chair of the chapter and ultimately the Republican Party of Virginia?

No one discounts "activism" nor its place or value in growing the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV), however it is the manner in which such kinds of "activism" are conducted by the chapters that should be examined and determined if they may fall outside the true mandate as an auxillary of the RPV.

                                      (Thomas Turner and Jessi Rapelje, middle)


The Virginia Third Congressional District (VA3) never really gets much focus in Virginia politics. Much of that has to do with the fact that it has been a very safe seat for the Demcoratic Party of Virginia. Incumbent Bobby Scott (D) has held the seat since 1993, which is just about the same time many of the Western Tidewater Young Republicans operating in the district were born.

The district is comprised primarily of Newport News (24.13%) Norfolk City (17.31%) Chesapeake City (15.45%) Hampton City(14.77%)  Portsmouth City (13.01%) Suffolk City(8.30%)  Isle of Wight (5.88%)  and Franklin City (1.15%).

It is primarily an urban district with a medium household income of  $52,797. 2016 redistricting has reshaped the district and made it the least "Democratic" it has been in decades after much of the western portion of the district in areas like Petersburg and Richmond City were removed. The district today is only comprised of roughly a five percent rural component.

President Trump has had tremendous influence in the VA3 in attracting more African American voters to the Republican Party. Many of these voters have voted for in the Democratic Party and possibly even for Bobby Scott (D) in the district. It has become evident that the district has been unprepared for this and the Republicans on the ground are seeing more voters move into the GOP fold that are traditional conservative voters. 

Even one of the Republican pirmary candidates has come under attack by purists within the party old guard and local  YR chapter. Madison Downs (R) has participated in Democratic primaries and elections as many living in the community have in the past. The Democrats have had a stranglehood on the VA3 for decades and many elections have come and gone with no real Republican message for the communities of the VA3.  The Madison Downs message appeared to reasonate with the VA3 early and some in the Republican apparatus have refused to accept the fact that not only are Democratic voters moving into the Republican Party but someone who may have supported Demcorats in the past would step up and run as a Republican having no prior party experience whatsoever.

What many of the Republican established units on the ground have failed to realize or frankly ignored for many elections is the fact that many in the VA3 have long been suspicious of the Republican Party. It has been President Trump that has helped combat such suspicions and not necessarily the units or the ground game by the local Republican auxillaries. In fact, some of these and its members many actually be counter productive to the impact that Trump has had on the district the last two years.  In 2018, the Republicans failed to even place a candidate on the ballot and now in 2020 they have three candidates battling for the nomination after one dropped out of the race.

The three candidates for the Republican nomination of the VA3 have been engaged in what can only be described as the most contentious GOP primary in Virginia. Much of it has played out on social media in the last few weeks and unfortunately has cast shadow on the Republican Party of Virgnia in truth because of the involvement of not just individual members of auxillaries but the Chairs of the Young Republicans chapters in the eastern region of the Chair of the Young Republican Federation of Virginia. Chapters are aggressively engaged in the pirmary with what could only be described as a negative narrative campaign singling out one specific candidate that they have determined does not have the neccssary values or "temperment" to represent the district against Bobby Scott (D). 

It appears clear that these individuals are attempting to deny voters in the VA3 to make determinations themselves at the primary. Instead, they have systematically taken it upon themselves to actively work against a fellow Republican. The truth is these individuals  clearly subscribe to a view expressed in the recent The Bull Elephant Drift article written by Chris King found here that targets Madison Downs as not being a "Republican":

http://thebullelephant.com/whats-worse-a-do-nothing-democrat-or-an-active-democrat-masquerading-as-a-republican/?fbclid=IwAR3b05MP0zS_XpRi1Khw_Dg6-v-oXP1loLsnMCLkzEebEQcEqeK3F_5Y7dA

Regardless of anyone taking exception with former Demcorats enaging the GOP, it is rare that you find the level of inappropriate discourse between fellow Republicans that permeates this cycle in the VA3. Much of it began in the days that followed a forum held on March 25, 2020 involving potential candidates for the pirmary. It appears none of the individuals participating at the time were formally certified candidates by the district for the primary at the time of the forum or at the very least neither made any mention on social media they were certified by March 24th.. The forum was also never officially supported by the  3rd District Committee itself. The only formally filed and certified candidate at the time of the forum appears to have been Madison Downs (R) who was absent from the forum whom forum moderators made no mention of by name even though Downs was officially certified to run in the primary and would be on the ballot. It begs the question why the forum was conducted before all candidates were actually certified. Some have claimed this created confusion in the district. Was Madison Downs invited to participate?

The three participating "candidates" in the forum had not yet been certified through submission of the required petitions at the time of the forum. In the VA3 each candidate must provide one thousand signed petitions as part of the certification process for eligibility for the primary. Madison Downs had done so and had done so early in March.

The YRFV 3rd District Candidate Forum was moderated by John Corsi. Corsi is the Young Republican representative to the VA3. The forum can be found in the link below from the Young Republican Federation of Virginia facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/YRFVA/videos/2610622419216357/

There appears no mention of the Madison Downs (R) campaign on the facebook pages of the Western Tidewater Young Republicans chapter in the VA3 and others in the region yet he was the first candidate to have filed and be certified for the primary. Down's immediately made a direct impact because of his connection to the greater community at large.  The chapter facebook pages have many videos and interactions with other candidate for local offices. Specific members and chairs of the YR chapters began to attack Madison Downs on what they claim as "unoffical" personal pages via social media while the official pages made no mention of the Madison Downs (R) campaign even when again he was the first to be certified in the district for the primary.

There is a clear pattern that was formulating that began in March running straight through the Candidate Forum, the cancelled formal debate and now the broadcast video presentation by the Chair of the WTYR and the Chair of the Young Republican Federation of Virginia on Friday, March 15.

It is clear that there are those affiliated with the YR's have sought to undermine Madison Downs (R). Any objective review on social media illustrates a clear bias against the campaign on behalf of Young Republicans who have attempted to question not only the residency and conservative values but also temperament. The chairs called on individuals in the community to comment during their video broadcast to highlight any negativce interactions they may have had regarding Madison Downs. How is this even remotely a positive for the RPV? Did they call for negative interactions relating to John Collick (R)? Why was Madison Downs targeted by a Chair Rapelje and Chair Turner?

The chapter went so far as to call into question whether Downs was actually a "real" Chaplain. Furthemore, evidence has surfaced where YR's sought to intimidate those defending Madison Downs on facebook. One such person even had their employer contacted. While challenging an opponent in a primary may not be out of the ordinary, the manner in which those affiliated with the party itself have undertaken is very disconcerting and should concern every Republican in Virginia.

There has been a push by some at the State Central Committee of the RPV to limit or reduce the participation of the College Republicans and Young Republican organizations. The actions undertaken in the VA3  by chapters merely lend fuel to the element seeking to limit their participation. The very fact that the the chairs involved in the controversy fail to comprehend this fact demonstrates a level of political immaturity. The repeated actions undertaken by the YR's will certainly be used against them by those who seek to reduce their voice. Just as these young "activists" seek to use the actions of Madison Downs to their benefit in discrediting him some quarters will use the actions of the YR's to discredit them for their own purposes. This is clearly something that the YR's are not comprehending. Optics matter.

After reviewing a small sampling of interactions in this post from the YR leaders every reader can decide for themselves whether the YR's are making the case for those who seek to reduce their voice.

Jack Wilson, Chairman of the RPV spoke directly to the elements that wish to reduce the voices of the YR's and CR's  here:

Have the actions undertaken by the YR's in the VA3  been appropriate? Jessi Rapelje who chairs the Western Tidewater YR's thinks so. Rapelje who is seeking to become an Republican National Committee Delegate herself produced a video entitled "The Real Madison Downs" for example that used edited targeted video clips of various Downs videos for little purpose othern than smearing him. Rapelje has argued her intet was "informing" voters but has never hidden her contempt for Downs. It has become clear that Rapelje does not recognize Downs as a legitimate Republican candidate based on her own litmus test not that of the 3rd District Committee yet expects fellow Republicans to believe that she will support Downs if he should be the nominee next month.

How many doors can anyone realistically think the YR's will knock on for someone they so vehmently think is unqualified and unfit to be the GOP nominee? What will the relationship between them and a winning Downs campaign?The broader question is when has it become appropriate for the YR's to enagge and act as extensions of campaign staff supporting one campaign while working against others on the GOP ballot?  There is a huge ethical difference between supporting a candidate positively you believe will move the RPV forward or has a chance of winning versus tearing down, undermining and working against fellow Repubkicans in a negative manner. This difference appears lost on the chapter chairs.

There is no question individuals associated with auxillaries like the YR's are permitted to engage in primaries and all are within their right to express any view they have regarding a candidate but the question is not whether one can do so but rather whether one should when they hold a position such as Chair of an auxillary of the RPV.  Chair Jessi Rapelje stated "I am a leader in the Party" herself on her own facebook broadcast on Friday evening entitled "Responding to Controversy in the 3rd District Primary" where she addressed issues she has with the Madison Downs campaign. Rapelje asserts her broadcast was not related to her chair position yet her audience was drawn directly from the fact she holds said position in the chapter.

Rapelje was responding to issues and controversies that she herself was part in fueling on social media as chapter chair in the first place.  The Statewide Executive Board can determine whether or not hosting such a presentation that created even more division within the community was in keeping with the traditions and the intent of the Young Republicans but the greater question is why draw more attention publicly to the issues within the party in the VA3 if the goal was not to in some form or fashion harm a campaign that the chapter clearly does not support?

It appears Jessi Rapelje demonstrated the real motivation behind "Responding to Controversy in the 3rd District Primary" when she posted this directed at supporters of Madison Downs following the broadcast:

"It's already working". What was in fact "working"? Was it Rapelje's intent to provoke even more controversy? Her own words appear to substantiate the claims that Rapelje has continued to agitate and provoke the Downs campaign all along.

Rapelje's own statement that "I am a leader in the Party" is exactly why she should never have engaged in such negative campaigning against a fellow Republican regardless how warranted she may have believed it was. It is because these chairs are perceived as  "leaders" that that should never be seen as "punching down". Both Rapelje and Thomas Turner who joined on the Friday night facebook video appear unappologetic regarding any statements, videos and negative interactions with the Madison Downs campaign. There has been little attempt to rise above any issues between the chapter and the campaign thus far and the position of the YR's is that it is the campaign's  responsibility to apologize not the YR's.

Chairs of RPV auxillaries represent more than just themselves in truth and as "leaders" assume the responsibility of preserving the Republican brand in public forums and encourage people to register, to volunteer and ulitmately to vote "for" someone on the GOP ballot not encourage people to vote "against" someone let alone for a chair to participate in the intent to "troll this clown after finals" relating to a GOP candidates campaign page:

Chair Ben Dixon of the Young Republicans of Virginia Beach stated in a public interaction with Jessi Rapelje that "I'm glad he (Downs) laughed when I said he would never be a Congressman. Maybe he finally he's(sp) his candidacy as much of a joke as the rest of us".  The following below further demonstrates the clear motivations of these "leaders" in the YR auxillary that as Chairs are publicly engaging in denouncing the candidacy or even legitimacy of a fellow Republican by calling him an "infiltrator". Is this in keeping with the Republican tradition of growing the party through inclusive messaging?

Rapelje claims that Madison Downs does not hold the same "conservative values" held by the "activists" of the auxillary including those of the Chair of the Young Republican Federation of Virginia. The position regarding the LGBQT community was highlighted on Friday night.  It was stated that the Downs rhetoric fails to support the LGBQT community and that "activists" have taken issue with that within the auxillary. Even if the assertion against Downs is true how is that position any different than the (13) Republican State Senators who voted down Senate Bill 868 which was an anti-discrimination bill advanced by the Demcoratic majority in the Assembly earlier this year?

Republicans like  State Senator Amanda Chase (R) running for Governor and champion of  "conservative values" joined State Senator Bill Desteph(R) from the chapter's region in voting the measure down while other State Senators from the eastern region like Jen Kiggans (R) and John Cosgrove(R) supported the bill with the majority. This illustrates that not all Republicans are aligned when it comes to advancing equal rights to the LGBQT community or even the Republican Creed in truth. The social conservatives clearly are not aligned with the opinion of Rapelje and Thomas Turner on the issue of gay and lesbian rights and many are well aware of the issues in the Virginia 5th regarding Rep. Denver Riggleman officiating a gay wedding and the controversy that ensued.

                                       (Jessi Rapelje (right), Chair Western Tidewater YR's)


The optic of everything happening in the V3 creates something that the Virginia GOP simply does not need nor likely do other Young Republican chapters in truth. Regardless of the true nature of the Madison Downs campaign or any statements that Downs may have made, is this the kind of engagement  the Republican Party of Virginia wants by its YR auxillary chapters? Primary voters ulitmately will decide the fate of the Madison Downs campaign but the question really is are the repeated actions undertaken by individuals in the YR auxillaries of Tidewater and Virginia Beach in keeping with the the tradition long established by the RPV?

Rapelje stated "I did nothing more than share is own words", however the reality is that Rapelje has done much more than merely sharing the words of Madison Downs.

 All the videos and interactions between the YR's and the Downs campaign whether acting as  "private" citizens or in capacity as a Chair of an RPV auxillary constitute nothing more than opposition research for the Democratic Party? The Chairs have undertaken a defensive posture regarding the actions undertaken by the YR's instead of objectively looking at things from the outside. It is clear that Rapelje and Turner are too close to the situation to effectively evaluate what has tanspired in the last few weeks and oat time by their own hands.

The RPV will never reject support from voters who may have voted  Demcoratic in the past anymore than it should reject former Democrats that join the RPV and run as Republicans on ballots. Voters are not registered by party in Virginia and frankly whether someone voted for a Demcorat twelve years ago is irrelevent. Lets face facts, not every Republican in 2016 supported Donald Trump for President either. In fact a great many Virginians supported Marco Rubio in the 2016 primary and some never joined the Trump camp for the general election but no one has banished them right?

How does anyone know in truth that Madison Downs (R) will not appeal to Republicans and Democrats alike in the VA3? Will not Virginia get a good indication of his appeal come the primary next month? What will the YR's who oppose a Downs nomination say if Democrats participate in the primary and support him given Bobby Scott (D) is unopposed? Will they rebuke the result of the nomination? Here you have a chair from Virginia Beach chapter commenting how Downs would make a great running mate for Joe Biden (D). Yet another example of the utter disfunction on display by "activists" within the YR auxillaries:

If the auxillaries are moving away from recruitment, voter turnout, building bridges and determining to become more "activist" given the new platforms that social media now bring to the auxillaries that many former YR's never had so be it but the RPV had better be prepared to police it or at best provide actual guidelines addressing what is and is not appropriate actions for members to engage in on social media in the name of the RPV.

No one should forget that every member of any Republican auxillary represents more than themselves and in truth represents the entire Republican Party of Virginia when they step out on the street and knock on doors or when they engage recruitment but most especially when they go on social media and use accounts that have them associated and affiliated with the RPV.

Much of this appears to be a continued struggle for the soul of the Virginia GOP. Some will justify all the actions of those that do not support one candidate or another within the party in a primary if it suits their purpose. A perfect example of this is demonstrated in a recent article in The Bull Elepphan (TBE). It is apparent in reviewing the article link above from TBE that it has set its sights on Madison Downs (R) in the same manner it has Congressman Denver Riggleman (R) in the Virginia 5th. Jessi Rapelje praised TBE for its efforts at the beginning of her video cast last Friday evening on facebook.

The YR's have claimed that a candidate has the higher obligation and reponsibility than they when it comes to interactions and while that may certainly be true they have a responsiility as well to act respectfully, honorably and in accordance with the true nature of the Young Republican mission and that of the Republican Party of Virginia.  Ultimately, voters get to determine whether Madison Downs (R) past, actions and character are suitable to repressent the GOP this November against Bobby Scott (D) and they will have that chance in the rescheduled primary.

The real question is who decides if the public behavior or character of YR's and actions undertaken  by them are aligned with the mission and goals of the RPV? Whose responsibility is it to make it clear that it is unacceptable for any YR  chapter to engage in negative campaigning shielded from any responsibility no matter how damaging to the Virginia GOP?

Is this the future? Is this the manner in which auxillaries will conduct themselves? Is the expectation that auxillaries of the RPV will simply be nothing more than independent "activist" chapters setting their own ethical standards on how they operate or conduct themselves? Is it any wonder why there are those with in the RPV that seek to limit the role (power) of these chapters at the State Central Committee level if they act in the manner in which they have in the Virginia 3rd District?

* at the time of this post information was provided regarding similar actions taken in VA2 against Republican candidate Jarome Bell by same parties involved in the VA3 controversy. This information has been forward to the Chairman, Republican Party of Virignia.

https://conservativestateus.blogspot.com/2020/05/virginia-3rd-district-debate-controversy.html

https://conservativestateus.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-virginia-3rd-congressional-ground.html

                                        https://www.facebook.com/TurnVARedAgain/

The Virginia 5th & 6th Congressional: The Real Danger From Within

                                          https://www.facebook.com/TurnVARedAgain/

Voter intimidation. Corruption. Undermining. Unacceptable developments in the Virginia GOP in two of Virginia's western Congressional Districts.

For the past few weeks, The Conservative State have been examining what appears to be a concerted effort on the part of a minority contingent within the Republican Party of Virginia to force its far right agenda upon the Party at large. Many of the efforts thus far have centered around amending the Republican Party Plan but others have attempted to use voter intimidation and threats of lgal proceedings as the means to their end. While none of this is really new to party politics, the new developing threat behind the attempt to undermine the Republican Party of Virginia by religious extremism is real and should not be ignored.

There are efforts in two of the western Congressional Districts of Virginia that have surfaced in the last few weeks  but also an eastern district that should alarm all Republican voters. Individual members of Young Republicans of Tidewater in the Virginia 3rd (VA-03) have attempted to undermine a GOP candidate with its injection into the primary process which appears highly inappropriate for any Republican affiliated auxillary. No one affiliated with a committee or auxillary is supposed to work against another Republican during any nomination process but that is clearly what has occurred in the VA-03. The Madison Downs for Congress  (R) campaign deserves a formal apology and soon.

Join Chasing Victory in Virginia 2020-21 here https://www.facebook.com/groups/2606638476319301/

In the VA-05  and VA-06, religious authoritarianism is on the rise as the minority element of social conservative movement continues its efforts to undermine the local committees within the district as well as the Congressional District Committees at large. Elements of this movement seek to continue divide the GOP and fight over what can only be described as "settled issues" by interviewing over a dozen potential hopefuls to primary Congressman Denver Riggleman (R) before settling on Bob Good over questions regarding Riggleman's commitment to social values.

Why would this movement within the Republican Party of Virginia itself attempt to remove a sitting Republican Congreessman for example who has been endorsed by both President Trump and Jerry Falwell Jr. of Liberty University? Is it due to Denver Riggleman's record in Congress which has been praised by conservative groups and Trump alike? Of course not. Its due to the fact that Riggleman (R) happened to marry a gay couple recently in the district. A couple that Riggleman reportedly had known from working on his campaign in 2018. Thats right. Riggleman had the audacity to perform a marriage ceremony that is legally authorized in the Commonwealth of Virginia. What does this opposition to Riggleman based on this single event tell you about the values that these so called "conservatives" hold? These are not Republican values but rather a mixed bag of Puritanical or Pentacostal values that these individuals hold that frankly are not aligned with the future of the Republican Party of Virginia.

This new so-called "middle resolution" movement is raising its ugly head and showing it true colors. It seeks to transform the Repulican Party of Virginia into nothing more than a country club and not a meaningful, winning political organization. A club where minorities, immigrants, Jews and Muslims, and gays for example are not welcome. This is their goal coupled with attempting to minimize the voices of women and younger Republicans via the State Central Committee by reducing the numbers of permitted members for participation. They seek to accomplish this by amending the Republican Party Plan.

Diana Shores, following the wedding officiated by Riggleman, on the Cumberland County Republican Committee and widely known in Republican circles going as far back as the Tea Party stated:

“Mr. Riggleman, who claims to want government out of marriage, acted as an elected official to perform a marriage,” according to NBC News and “Then, he made it clear in the communications that followed to the leadership of the district that he didn’t care what we thought about the actions. Each district committee can decide if they have further confidence in Congressman Riggleman representing their values. As for me, he doesn’t represent mine.” 

Congressman Riggleman responded to criticism regarding officiating the wedding stating his "real belief is that government shouldn’t be involved in marriage at all, but if it is, everybody has to be treated equally before the law....That is part of our Republican creed. And it also comes down to love is love. I’m happy to join two people together who obviously love each other.”

The values asserted by Diana Shores and others are based in "exclusivity" where certain peoples races, sex orientations or national origins are not welcome in the party. This is the "party" that these religious authoritarians wish to transform the Republican Party of Virginia into in the coming years for their own gain. There appears little goals of winning elections mind you, but rather using the committees for their own personal gain.

Bob Good, formerly of  Liberty University has challenged Denver Riggleman (R) in the primary and it appears that the sole basis of this challenge was the fact that in Good's view Riggleman "betrayed the trust of the conservative base".  So being asked to perform the marriage ceremony of campaign staffers who are Republicans is a betrayal of the conservative base?

President Trump has had nothing but positive remarks regarding Riggleman and in fact placed him as a Co-Chair for his re-election campaign in Virginia as well as on the Covid-19 China Task Force. Trump stated:

“Congressman Riggleman is a true CONSERVATIVE leader who has done a great job for Virginia and will support our #MAGA Agenda. He defends our right to bear arms, protect our Borders & help small businesses. Denver has my Total Endorsement!” 

Jerry Falwell Jr., President of Liberty University and Bob Good's former boss stated this regarding Riggleman:

“I am proud to offer my endorsement of Congressman Denver Riggleman for re-election in the 5th District of Virginia.... Denver has been a champion for our conservative values in Congress and I respect his commitment to liberty-minded ideals.” 

Good recently made remarks that were both alarming and revealing. The contingent like Diana and Chris Shores that back Good have a myopic view of the party just like Bob Good who was quoted stating:

"We are going all-in to win this nomination and the General Election in November to make this seat bright red for Republicans in 2020."

"Bright red"? 

The VA5 seat is already controlled by Republicans. The notion that a nomination and victory by Good in November implies that the district would be "bright red" as compared to the district today with Riggleman at the helm. Of course this is simply yet another smear by the far right extremists that believe their belief systems are "brighter" red than other Republicans who in their view have little conservative virtue.

Following Governor Northam's Executive Orders that impacted GOP primaries and conventions, the Virginia 5th was forced to potentially explore other options relating to nominating a candidate. However, due to a 2019 amendment to the Republican Party Plan it has become increasing difficult to change or alter a nomination method once said method has been publicized. District Committees across Virginia are trying to figure out alternative methods but frankly their hands are tied. The party membership at large appears unwilling to accept mail in or online voting by delegates which leaves only "in person" or "drive thru" primary or convention voting.

Rep. Riggleman (R) attempted to offer a solution given the pandemic crisis and sought to examine whether the voting method could be changed from convention to primary given the orders that the Commonwealth are under in terms of social distancing. Supporters of the Good campaign quickly targeted any delegate who would consider such a change or vote in support of such a change by issuing a threat of legal action to the tune of fifty thousand dollars per delegate that would support any change from convention to primary method.

Kurt Lofquist, Campaign Manager for Denver Riggleman in response to actions taken by the Good campaign surrogates stated:

“This lawsuit is targeting committee members with the express purpose of influencing their vote.” said Lofquist. “The Congressman is appalled and disgusted the Bob Good campaign would allow one of their most ardent supporters to single out committee members in a lawsuit.”

The other issue of course that must be examined is the continuation of district committees working against the interest of the Virginia GOP and working to replace members of Congress with seats held by the very Republican officials these committees should be supporting. Instead many on these committees are working diligently to undermine elected Republicans and have them replaced with individuals they have privately worked behind the scenes to move forward. There are claims that some of these members are being paid by challengers to the incumbents to screw favor on the committees. How does any of this align with the Republican Party Plan?

                        ( Chris Shores, middle and Diana Shores, right)

In the Virginia 5th you have people like minister Melvin Adams and Chris Shores both leaders on the 5th Congressional District Committee encouraging challenges to existing Republican leaders and many claim working in support of challengers to existing Republican official in office. Are these committee members being compensated by these challengers? No one has forgetton the political disaster that is Texan transplant Cynthia Dunbar after relocating to Virginia following her unsuccessful bid in the Texas 22nd Congressional District who decided to not only run for Congress in the Virginia 6th in 2018 but also in the Virginia 5th in the same cycle. There may be a movie in there somewhere someday.

Supported by the Shores and Adams, many believed Dunbar would challenge Denver Riggleman (R)  or potentially Ben Cline (R) again even though there is little evidence she ever moved into the Virginia 5th in the first place before Bob Good was annoited as the challenger.

Diana Shores even had her Cumberland County Republican Committee vote no confidence on Riggleman simple for performing the wedding ceremony in an effort to undermine Riggleman and "shore" up support of the Bob Good campaign.

Both Chris and Diana Shores made a name for themselves back during the days of the Tea Party and now continue to support far, far right extreme candidates against fellow Republicans they have deemed unworthy. Candidates like Cynthia Dunbar who claimed "Gold told her to run for the Sixth" yet after losing ran in the Virginia 5th as well. Melvin Adams who last year was asked by many to resign his position as Chair of the Virginia 5th District Committee as a result of his unacceptable remarks targeting members of the LGBQT community. Young Republicans on college campus spought his resignation in 2019.

Republicans like Elliot Harding resigned as Young Republican representative to the VA5 District Committee after Melvin Adams refused to resign his position after his outlandish comments. Harding's resignation was a shot fired that sounded the alarm that those like Adams were alienating young college conservatives who do not share in such bigoted and hateful belief systems. Melvin Adams on facebook months later regarding what he and the Shores perceived as an unacceptable "gay wedding ceremony" stated this:

The retaliation has been swift by the religious authoritarians who took offense to the Young Republicans challenging "elders" on the committees resulting in ultimately a proposal to limit the YR's participation at the State Central Committee level.  This was a coordinated and targeted retaliation by the Conservative Fellowhip to seek to amend the Republican Party Plan this summer to reduce the voices on that committee. Once again illustrating an effort to exclude voices. Excluding voices that oppose their nefarious activities and agendas.

Melvin Adams went on the record after Riggleman officiated the wedding and declared that "his" ( not the people of the 5th mind you) committee does “not accept the Supreme Court’s redefinition of marriage and we urge its reversal, whether through judicial reconsideration or a constitutional amendment returning control over marriage to the states.”

This continues to be the religious social conservatives fight. Arguing settled social issues that the majority of Virginians and Americans have little interest in fighting and have moved  in exactly the opposite direction from.

It is clear this new movement within the far, far right wing religious wing is attempting to reconfigure or reshape the Republican Party of Virginia in a manner that fails to reflect the traditions of the Republican Creed. Many are seeing this for the first time and raising questions not only in the VA5 and VA6 but with regard to the State Senator Amanda Chase (R) campaign for Governor  as well. Chase has aligned with the individuals mentioned above. Chase's positions on conversion therapy ,anti discrimmination bills and her opposition to gay marriage align with Melvin Adams and the statements being made by those opposing Denver Riggleman (R) in VA5. Chase failed to defend Riggleman as well. Many recall Chase supporting the Tina Freitas challenge to State Senator Emmett Hanger in 2019 and recently Chase has endorsed Nick Freitas in the Virginia Seventh Congressional District.   See Chase group here:(https://www.facebook.com/groups/999287823791649/)

The assault upon the traditions of the Republican Party has not gone unnoticed by many affiliated auxillaries and groups aligned with the Republican Party of Virginia. A strong rebuke regarding the actions of the extremists was delivered here:

There is an apparent coordination between the elements seeking to undermine the RPV from within the VA5 and VA6. John Massoud, Vice Chair of the Virginia 6th District Congressional Committee appears to have aligned with those in the VA5 attempting to work against his own Congressman in Ben Cline (R) who defeated Cynthia Dunbar in a primary in 2018 and go on to win his election to Congress. Cline replaced Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R) who retired from Congress. John Massoud recently has targeted Jennifer M. Brown who Chairs the Virginia 6th District Committee in large part because Brown has been a huge obstacle in the face of Massoud and others preventing them from undermining the elected Congressional and Legislative Virginia Republicans from the district. Massoud blamed the Republican Party of Virginia in recent  press release for:

1. Not running candidates in each Legislative District – something which also occurred repeatedly in the 6^th Congressional District.  
2. Not running one ad against a sitting Governor and Attorney General who wore blackface, and a sitting Lt. Governor who has had credible allegations of sexual assault made against him.
3. Voter lists are so out of date that they often show known Democrats as being hardcore Republicans.

Of course none of these issues are primarily the Republican Party of Virginia's fault. It is left to people like Massoud and the local committees to identify prospective candidates for the legislature for open seats or those seats held by the Democratic Party and other offices and not the RPV specifically. To cast shadow on the RPV for what is the responsibility of others in an attempt to convince Republicans to support him for Chairman is rather disconcerting. 

John Massoud like Adams seeks to transform the party into a religious crusade that will alienate a majority of Virginians. There appears to be more of a lust for power with Massoud, Adams, Dunbar and the Shores than any attempt to move the Republican Party forward in winning elections. Otherwise, why work so hard to undermine Denver Riggleman (R) in VA5 or even Ben Cline (VA6)? Could it be because Massoud like those on the VA5 committee are Never Trumpers themselves in truth and were Ted Cruz supporters. Cynthia Dunbar for example was State Co-Chair for Ted Cruz for President in 2016. Cruz mustered only 16.9% of the primary vote in 2016  behind both Trump and Rubio who both doubled Cruz's support in Virginia.

These individuals represent a clear and present danger to the Republican Party of Virginia and seek to implement their own agenda and litmus tests in terms of membership not only for committee but delegates to conventions.  These individuals need to be watched closely with the role they play in delegate review given their clear bias against incumbents that are Republicans supported by Trump.

If these individuals have been found to have violated the Republican Party Plan with acitivites they have enaged in they should be removed from any committee and its activities moving forward immediately. Many have called for the removal of Melvin Adams in the VA5  but it is up to the delegates  in the VA5 to undertake that end.

Denver Riggleman (R) may not be their guy but he certainly the leader for the majority of Republicans in the Virginia Fifth District and has little problem highlighting and defending his conservative rating/record in Congress to anyone in the district. Riggleman has already exposed the hypocrisy and level of corruption of many in the VA5. 

"I have always pledged on running a campaign of integrity and transparency. That's why I have attached the FEC filings so you can judge for yourself on this matter. Both the committee members on Bob Goods payroll have voted on key decisions during this nomination process and have been put on special committees by the Chairman. One of these paid committee members even had their wife appointed to a special State Central Committee panel to decide the nomination process during the COVID crisis" (Denver Riggleman)

Defend the Republican Party of Virginia now from this imminent danger and threat from within and ensure that the Committee Chairs remain in the hands of competent leaders like Jennifer M. Brown in the VA6 that sole purpose is winning and moving the Republican Party of Virginia forward.

https://conservativestateus.blogspot.com/2020/05/bait-switch-chase-communications-prove.html

https://conservativestateus.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-virginia-3rd-congressional-ground.html

J.Scott