With the Republican nominating conventions now complete for the 2020 November Elections,there is now a grassroots effort underway to "draft" Representative Denver Riggleman (R) to run for Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2021.
Many Republicans see Congressman Riggleman as the kind of candidate that can appeal to areas of the Commonwealth that thus far the Virginia GOP has been unable to engage and connect with. The suburbs.The defeat of Chairman Jack Wilson on Saturday August 15, 2020 at the Republican State Convention signals to many that the party will move further right and alienate demographics that the party must tap in order to change the outcomes of the the last decade where the Democrats have swept elections.
Some doubters point to Riggleman's recent defeat in the Virginia Fifth Congressional , however that result and the reasons behind it are exactly what makes Riggleman an appealing candidate to far more Virginians especially centrists and swing voters. The Republicans have little chance to win these voters in the "middle" from either party if State Senator Amanda Chase (I-R) is nominated. Riggleman has an outstanding conservative record in Congress that appeals to many in the party that are outside the far right social conservative camp. The social conservatives defamed Riggleman for performing a same sex wedding and for that reason alone sought to stack the deck in the district committee and worked to undermine his re-election. Committee members were paid by the challenger in such an offensive manner to many that the State Convention just passed an amendment to the Party Plan to ensure that such issues never happen again.
The social conservatives have long carried their own agenda which has proven not to be in the best interests of growing the party in Virginia the last decade. The social conservatives are focused on "settled issues" and "litmus tests" which is limiting the party in attracting more Virginians to the candidates it nominate. In fact, one could argue that the local committees are no longer reflective of the conservative electorate at large in Virginia which are nominating unelectable candidates.
Riggleman speaks to a broader audience withing the Virginia GOP with a broader message than mere social issues that the majority of voters in Virginia have moved past. Riggleman has had to fight the Conservative Fellowship and Middle Resolution elements of the party that seek to return Virginia to the 1990's environment and believe they can undo all the changes or progress that Virginia has experienced especially in the area of respecting gay marriage and individuals rights to marry the person of their choice. These social conservative elements seek to place their religious belief systems upon all Virginians independent of any ramification regarding what Republicans and the Republican Creed stand for.
The real battle in 2021 will come when the RPV determines how to nominate candidates. After experiencing what happened in his home district at its convention it is no wonder that Denver Riggleman may contemplate running for Governor as an independent. Ironically, State Senator Chase has threatened to run an independent campaign should the RPV determine to hold a convention and not a primary. This is an interesting dynamic that two candidates would consider third party runs. It speaks to just how dysfunctional things have become within the Virginia GOP in 2020.
Supporters have taken to social media to organize a "Draft Denver Riggleman for Governor" campaign and forming a Facebook group to encourage Riggleman to enter the Governor's race in 2021.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/333270554377849
Denver Riggleman's clear grasp of the business community and economic conditions Virginians face and his depth of knowledge regarding issues facing Virginia in agriculture, defense, and technology far out pace the only other Republican candidate declared in State Senator Chase.
The following are Denver Riggleman's recent approval ratings:
Endorsement of President Donald Trump
Campaign for Working Families 100%
National Right to Life Committee 100%
National Retail Federation 100%
Americans for Prosperity 100%
Heritage Action for America 100%
American Energy Alliance 97%
Family Research Council 100%
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/181445/denver-riggleman-iii
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