Virginia Assembly: Day 3 Virginia Senate Update

 

The Virginia Legislature "Special Session" day is underway and the Virginia Senate meeting at the Science Museum of Virginia on West Broad Street in Richmond is taking up various bills today coming from the Senate Education and Health Committee.

         

The Senate has determined to combine three bills (S.B.  5026, 5150, 5081) into one bill that has passed unanimously. These bills address that matter in which the public is informed with regard to outbreaks, location, cases and deaths resulting from said outbreak.

The Senate has also advanced S.B 5004 calling for every school building in the Commonwealth to have a School Nurse on site. This bill while passing was referred back to Finance Committee.

One bill that appears stalled is the bill relating to the prevention of evictions during the pandemic.  The Senate has put off this bill until next session in January. Virginia experienced a 16% rent failure rate in the month of July. It is believed that some 262,000 Virginians are "at risk" for evictions due to the pandemic.

Other measures under consideration:

SB5116-  In Home service verification by Department of Medical Assistance; electronic verification system

SB5114- Requires each School Board to make available in person instruction to each enrolled student when an area is determined not to have adequate internet services

SB5109- Provides that employees and residents of nursing homes receive priority testing for Covid-19

SB5064- Employer reporting of Covid-19 for each workplace with 30+ employees to health services

SB5028- Emergency Services and Disaster Law- Prohibits any Governor from issue any rule, regulation or under under his powers under Emergency Services that affects the operation of any public or private elementary or secondary school in Virginia. Bill also makes it so the State Board of Health cannot issue such order either.

SB5076- Paid Sick Leave during Covid-19 crisis from public and private employers for full or part time employees if the Governor has declared a state of emergency in response to health threat.  (FAILED)

Political Survival in 2021: Redistricting at the Gates

 

During the 2020 General Assembly session in March, the Democratic majority passed the legislation addressing the means of which statewide redistricting will be determined. Redistricting has traditionally been a product of the State Legislature every ten years following the Census Report that evaluates the distribution  and changes of population. Not only is this significant to the legislature but also the level of representation a state will send as a delegation to the House of Representatives in Congress.

Virginia currently has an 11 member Congressional Delegation. There is not data thus far to support that following the 2020 Census that that number will change. Virginia currently has 8.5 million residents  The 2010 Census reported a population of 8,001,024 Virginians. Other states like New York , California, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania for example are predicted to actually lose at least one seat in Congress due to population changes while Texas and Florida are poised to gain one. This is important politically for both parties.

In Virginia however, the immediate impact will be redistricting existing districts both relating to the Legislature and Congress.

The power to "gerrymander" is an old game and one played by both parties historically. Gerrymandering refers to the manner in which the majority draws new lines of districts to benefit them politically. If you examine some of these districts they are hardly uniform. They are drawn less on basis of the population of a geographic area and more by using the historical voting metrics of local precincts. The majority always claims such redraws are done to address disenfranchisement however that appears less the case when you examine the history of them. It is more a matter of political metrics given various pockets of areas. This is easily illustrated in the manner in which all these districts appear simply by examining them in map form.

The Democratic majority largely flip flopped from 2018 to 2020 on the issue of removing the legislative redistricting and placing it in the hands of an independent (more or less) commission. Democrats supported a commission while in the minority yet after the 2019 election cycle that saw Democrats take control of both chambers of government in the legislature changed their position. During the 2020 legislative session only nine Democrats supported the amendment joining 45 Republicans in the House of Delegates. After championing the commission in previous years, the Virginia Black Caucus appeared to do a complete about face on the issue claiming that a commission would suppress black political power. 

The previous year during the 2019 General Assembly Session that exact same bill passed 83-15 in the House of Delegates with support of majority of the Black Caucus. So what changed? What changed was a power shift in government and the securing of the "trifecta" of controlling both chambers in the Capitol and the Executive led by Governor Ralph Northam (D).

For Virginians what is clearly on display here is a lesson in Politics 101.  Democrats once securing power no longer wanted Virginians themselves to play a role in determining how redistricting would take place and under whose direction. They did so only when they were out of power.

The amendment to the Virginia State Constitution calls for a sixteen member bipartisan commission of which eight would still remain state legislators comprising members of both chambers as well as eight citizens. If the commission ever were to be unable to decide on an plan than ultimately the Virginia Supreme Court would decide the outcome. This is something opponents to the measure like Del. Mark Levine (D) highlighted last year in his opposition given the court in his view is overwhelming stacked with conservative appointed judges.

Virginia Democrats for years have crafted messaging that the courts are not to be trusted. One could argue that Democrats have attacked every major institution in Virginia in truth. The recent protesting and riots seem to illustrate this point. If the judicial system can not be trusted to remain objective in this process than who would the Democrats suggest have that power? Well, their legislative majority of course.

Will voters support the amendment referendum in November? Many suspect that Virginia will support this measure. There have been many groups and organizations like One Virginia 2021 that have been strong advocates for the measure.

Redistricting itself will happen one way or another. The Republicans face the fact that many of its stronger districts especially in the Senate very well may get redrawn, especially many of those that have been staunch supporters of President Trump. 

One such Senate district is the Virginia 11th. Long a solid "red" district in Chesterfield County, Virginia and represented by potential gubernatorial candidate State Senator Amanda Freeman Chase has experienced a massive shift that has largely gone unreported by the media. Not unlike other districts in Chesterfield where the strength of the GOP brand is declining.

If the change in voting metrics is examined over the course of the last decade or so the shift is massive. The Virginia Senate hold elections every four years. Here are the winning percentage in the Virginia 11th since 2003.

2003- 97.27 (Steve Martin)

2007- 62.41 (Steve Martin)

2011- 94.7% (Steve Martin)

2015- 63.74% (Amanda Chase) -Chase defeated Martin in primary than won General

2019- 54.51% (Amanda Chase)

The most alarming metric in the voting data is that Senator Chase won in 2015 with a 27 point margin in 2015 and four years later saw that margin decline 18 points to +9 winning with 54.51%.

Many have speculated that this data is one of the major factors that Senator Chase has declared her candidacy to run for Governor in 2021. There were rumors Chase would seek the GOP nomination in the Virginia Congressional District but declined to run given that the district determined to hold a "convention method" over a primary. Chase has stated she knows the district (VA7) better than anyone given her participation on the Rep. David Brat (R) campaign who defeated Rep.Eric Cantor (R) in a primary and ultimately went to Congress. Brat would lose his re-election bid in 2018. 

The changing demographics of the Virginia 11th, especially in the Chesterfield portion of the district are moving away from the the base that Chase has held. While the county is still lead by a Republican Board of Supervisors, the board and the local Republican committee do not appear to support Senator Chase any longer. This poses a real challenge for Chase in 2023. The metrics are going the opposite direction just as the GOP has witnessed in the Virginia 10th adjacent to the Virginia 11th that the GOP lost in 2019.

Chase is one politician to watch over the course of the coming year. Chase has stated she would run as an independent if she did not secure the GOP nomination but the real thing to watch for is Chase has always had any eye on Congress. If Delegate Nick Freitas (R) nominated last month to represent the GOP on the ballot this November in the Virginia 7th Congressional District does not defeat Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) do not be shocked if Chase transitions to a 2022 Congressional bid unless of course Chase herself become victim to any  redistricting that may occur.

Has Time Come to Amend the Virginia Constitution For Equal Representation in Richmond?

                                                          

Jonathan Scott

Guest Contributor

Is it any wonder many counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia are frustrated with the level of representation in Richmond?

Are Virginians represented equally in Richmond in the Virginia General Assembly today as they have been throughout Virginia history? Given the increasing Virginia population, what is a good ratio of official to constituent for the purposes of representation?

Would not amending the Virginia Constitution and increasing the number of Delegates and Senators provide for greater representation?

The time has come to address the rising population of the Commonwealth and stop disenfranchising the vote in truth by limiting the number of officials sitting in the General Assembly.

The Assembly will send an amendment referedum to  the Virginia Constitution regarding redistricting but what it really should be doing to addressing the Articles that determine how many seats there can be in the Assembly in the first place.

By increasing the number of districts to be represented in the Assembly, the ratio of the number of Virginians represented per official would be lowered thus providing greater representation to the population.

A big issue facing Virginia today is a dominance by one single Virginia region in terms of representation in large part due to the population density of Northern Virginia which has just recently provided dominating control of the Legislature by one Party over that of another due its control over that region politically.

Fairfax County, Virginia for example has a population of 1.1 million. Fairfax has three different Democrat Congressional Representatives with precincts within the county and (9) State Senators and (17) State Delegates representing constituents in the General Assembly residing in the County.

The General Assembly has 100 Delegates and 40 Senators as determined by the State Constitution.  This translates to a political reality that Fairfax County influence controls 17% of the House of Delegates and  22% of the Senate.

Not a single seat held in the Virginia Assembly from Fairfax is a Republican official. Every Assembly seat including the Speaker of the House of Delegates position and three Congressional Districts are held by Democrats. In essence 1,1 million Virginians dominate the political influence over a Commonwealth with 8.5 million in terms of seats, influence and power.

In fact, Fairfax is so partisan that in 2019  (6) races for the State Senate did not even have a Republican or Independent on the ballot. In 2015 there were (2) such races with no Republican or Independent.

In effect, Fairfax controls (9) Senate votes. Are there Republicans and Independents residing in Fairfax County? Sure. However, the way the districts are configured you would not know it. For example District 39 had 20,757 Republican voters and both District 32 and 33 both had about 18,000  but the manner in which the precincts and district has been drawn it hardly provides for real representation.

In fact, examine the fact that in District 36 Democrat Scott Surovell won with 37, 518 votes yet Republican incumbent Glen Sturtevant in District 10 comprising Richmond and portions of Chesterfield and Powhatan earned 37,737 and lost. Over 80,000 votes were cast in the 10th District.

Only 37,518 votes were cast in the 36th District for the Virginia Senate. That compared with over 80,000 voters casting ballots in District 10, 11 and 12 all including the suburbs of Richmond.

This fact alone demonstrates the fault that exists in the current district allocations and how they are drawn. Instead of drawing these districts is such a manner to benefit those actually drawing them would it not make more sense long term to amend the State Constitution and add seats.

While adding seats could certainly address better representation in Richmond, it is also important to address the size of districts and the number of voters casting ballots so Virginia is not left with such disparity as illustrated by District 36 and Districts 10, 11, and 12.

Did the Virginians who enacted the Virginia Constitution on June 29, 1776 ever envision such a development. By 1790 Virginia had a population of 747,610 amassing even greater geographical territory then given it was not until the Wheeling Convention of 1861 that the western areas of Virginia  broke and sought the formation of present day West Virginia. Even back then the Assembly would be comprised of the same number of Assembly officials as today.

Virginia population 1900 was 1.85 million and had 100 Delegates and 40 Senators in the Virginia General Assembly. Virginia's population in 2019 was 8.54 million and it appears to continue the trend of growth moving forward and yet today's session in Richmond has the same number of Delegates and Senators as it did in 1900.

While Virginia may have been more unified culturally in 1900 than today it is critical to consider just how different today the various regions of the Commonwealth are in truth. One such debate today is over gun control. A majority of counties throughout the Commonwealth have enacted 2A Gun Sanctuary Resolutions top protect citizens against the extreme legislation  being enacted by Virginia Democrats in Richmond.

Having so many seats in the Assembly from the populous Northern Virginia certainly aligns with the Constitution but as population grows all that will happen is Virginia will have districts with more and more citizens. The State Constitution constrains the Assembly ability do nothing more than re draw and re draw district lines regardless of the population  growth Virginia experiences.

It is clear the solution is to amend the State Constitution and increase representation. This is not something the political establishment will do however without the people demanding it. Citizens will have demand equal representation just as Virginians did during the Revolutionary period of Virginia history. Politicians will not surrender the power that the current system creates, especially those politicians in the Progressive region of Northern Virginia.

So what is the biggest issue to reaching equality of representation?

Understand that are Maryland justa cross the Potomac has less population than Virginia yet has more State Senators and Delegates representing its citizens than Virginia. Maryland has 6 million citizens and 47 State Senators for example. Delaware has less than one million people yet has 21 State Senators. Virginia is approaching 9 million citizens and has just 40 State Senators.

The State Constitution of Virginia determines the exact number of seats in the General Assembly.

State Constitution of Virginia Article IV Sections 2 and 3:

Section 2. Senate.

The Senate shall consist of not more than forty and not less than thirty-three members, who shall be elected quadrennially by the voters of the several senatorial districts on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November.

Section 3. House of Delegates.

The House of Delegates shall consist of not more than one hundred and not less than ninety members, who shall be elected biennially by the voters of the several house districts on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November

These sections of the State Constitution are what should be revised and amended. The number should be increased to reflect more representation with seats having a maximum population density that each official shall serve.

Should the Assembly in Richmond not address the disparity that exists it will not  be able to prevent some counties from considering offers made by West Virginia to join that state and leave the Commonwealth.

The sizes of various districts vary in terms of population and voting participants. 

Follow TCS on Social Media:

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

New Facebook Candidate Discussion Group Formed

The Covid-19 crisis has left most of us all at home of course and the new craze is of course zoom and all the new ways in which we all staying connected. Life however goes on and the thought process after weeks of deliberation is to move away from "echo chambers" and develop new means of discussion where people could voice concerns on issues and polices, seek answers to questions they may have regarding conventions, primaries or just elections in general. Things like the absentee balloting process and other areas related to elections but also all the candidates.

2020 Virginia has all of its Congressional seats on the ballot and one U.S. Seante seat.

Do you know who those are running for the nominations?

This group intends to introduce everyone to the candidates and often in their own words now that videos have become immensely popular.

"We are forming a new discussion group regarding all the candidates in Virginia for 2020-21. Hope you will join the group and provide insight and opinion on any of those on Virginia ballots in 2020-21"

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2606638476319301/

2A Call to Arms: Join Local Committees and Virginia Militias

The groundswell of 2A grassroots has resulted in over 100 Virginia localities to adopt resolutions to protect citizens from the radical, extreme agenda being proposed  by Virginia Democrats this  General Assembly session in Richmond.

"Lobby Day" this year at the State Capital drew well over sixty thousand Second Amendment supporters from dozens of states from across the country. These supporters put a national spotlight on the gun control measures  being proposed by Virginia Democrats having secured the majority control in Richmond last November.

Dozens of 2A groups have formed all over the Commonwealth of Virginia and many of them have group pages on facebook. This movement has connected 2A supporters all across the Commonwealth resulting now in many new county militias being formed. Jennifer Bailey of Louisa County is one of the biggest organizers and proponents of the Virginia Militia Alliance. Jonathan Scott has organized the #2AStrong Movement in Virginia and Corey Hodges has organized the Chesterfield County 2A Preservation Society in one of Virginia's largest suburban counties in the state. These groups are all growing members and the militia groups are beginning to hold their first drilling days.

The Virginia Democrats have been organizing behind close doors hoping to weather the storm. The have had some bill deferred but have had many successes in Richmond. "Red Flag" and "One Gun a month" bills have passed through the Assembly. Some Republicans have even defected to join the Democrats in these measures.

While the grassroots is generating alot of support and assisting in identifying the many proposals that are alarming to Virginia voters there is much more that MUST be done. The political process is about power. While on "Lobby Day" power in numbers was demonstrated, it has largely been forgotten already by Richmond. Democrats and Republicans have both gone about their business as usual in Richmond.

So what is the solution?

It not just Lobby Day sadly.

The solution lies in your locality.

Many 2A supporters showed up to 2A rallies and meeting to influence local Board of Supervisors in passing "gun sanctuary" resolutions that has resulted in over one hundred such resolutions being adopted. While it was a massive success, the reality is the real power that 2A supporters must concentrate their sights on are the local political committees that reside within the localities they live. These are the true political power apparatuses that influence not only the locality but also the district in terms of future candidates.

If 2A supporters are serious about having political power than it is this local committees that must be joined in mass with the hopes of winning control so that the political positions supporting freedom and liberty are preserved. The power of these committees cannot be understated.


This committees all across the Commonwealth are full of false Republicans. While they may claim to be Republican they are certainly far from being Conservative let alone Constitutional Conservatives. many of these committees are full of "Never Trumpers" that did not work on behalf of the Trump campaign in their localities that resulted in Trump losing to Hillary Clinton in Virginia by five points.

This is why you have not seen President Trump in Virginia much sicne 2016.

But beware the move to the 2A theme in 2020. Elections on the horizon 2A Supporters need to not blindly buy the messaging. There are plenty of gun owners in the Assembly in Richmond that frankly are not pushing for less restriction but more.

Beware the opportunists. Some experience that in Chesterfield Rally late last year. Politicians are savy. Even more savy are the ones who claim to not be "politcians" but are the worst kind of politcial animals.

As it stands the 2A groups have determined that as of today the one and only true 2A fighter in Virginia on any ballot is Delegate Nick Freitas but there are a few others that deserve a nod as well but many are not aware of them.

Thomas Anthony Specialle found here https://www.facebook.com/thomas.speciale  running for U.S. Senate.

Aliscia Andrews found here : https://www.facebook.com/andrewsforcongress/  (Marines)

Andrew Knaggs found here:  https://www.facebook.com/AndrewKnaggsVA/   (Army)

Madison Downs found here :https://www.facebook.com/MadisonDownsforCongress/   (Marines)

So what can 2A supporters do today?

They can join their local Republican Committees and get involved. By doing so, the voice of the 2A movement will continue to be heard  and doubters will not be able to silence the movement like they did to the Tea Party Movement.

The 2A Movement has gained a ton of momentum but the special interest and establishment are betting that the movement will die out in 2020.

Supporters of the Second Amendment cannot let that happen.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2606638476319301/ (Chasing Victory in Virginia)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/virginiamilitiaalliance/   Virginia Militia Alliance)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/429364747755341/   (Chesterfield County 2A Preservation Society)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/578238489390036/   (#2AStrong in Virginia)

Chas(e)ing the Nomination in Virginia: State Senator Amanda Freeman Chase (R)

Seeking to capitalize on the growing level of "Virginia Populism" all across the Commonwealth of Virginia, State Senator Amanda Freeman Chase (R) has announced her intention to run for the Republican nomination for Governor of Virginia four months ago on the steps of the State Capital.

Discussions here Chase for Governor: https://www.facebook.com/Chase-for-Governor-2021-115057180190139/

Senator Chase announced her intentions on Monday standing on the historic steps of the Virginia State Capital on the very afternoon that the Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee voted down one of the most radical, extremist gun control measures ever introduce in Virginia political history. House Bill 961 that was sponsored in the Virginia House of Delegates by Progressive Delegate Mark Levine representing the 45th House District located in Arlington and Alexandria. HB 961 in effect would ban all "assault" style weapons or as Delegate characterizes as "weapons of war" as well as any and all sale of magazines that could hold twelve rounds or more of ammunition. Possession of these items would constitute a felony.

House Bill 961 was simply a similar version of Senate Bill 16 sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw of Fairfax County that the Senator had pulled from consideration thus avoiding any debate on the matter in the Senate. Instead, Virginia Democrats in Richmond used the Levine Bill as a vehicle in the House first and then reviewed in committee by the Senate. The bill failed in committee 10-5 after four Democrats moved right and joined Republicans in opposition.

During the Campaign of 2019, Amanda Freeman Chase was one of the very few Republicans who did not run away from President Trump. Chase defeated a heavily funded challenger afer which Chase decided to no longer caucus with the Republican Party.

This means in effect Chase really is not recognized nor treated as a GOP legislator and does not meet with the others in the caucus nor is part of the communication. Chase was stripped of all her previous committee assignments save one once the Democrats took control. Chase in essence is a island in the Virginia Senate like Sander's in the U.S. Senate who in truth is an independent not a Democrat. Chase has done little to reunite with the GOP in 2020 and recent statements from the GOP appear to illustrate hat they remain unsupportive of her .

Chase's decision was made when the Republican leadership that lost control of the majority of both chambers in the Virginia General Assembly for the first time in almost two decades remained intact post election. The Republicans determined in effect to continue with "business as usual". The Leadership had failed to understand just how poor the messaging was in 2019 and determined to run the campaigns in the same manner they always had while the Democrats had evolved and implemented new innovative campaign mechanisms and infrastructure.

One other major factor little reported by the media is the failure of the Republican leadership to even fund the re-election bid of Senator Amanda Freeman Chase. While supporting other Republican Senate candidates the leadership chose not to assist Chase in her efforts. There were even rumors in early 2019 that the leadership was attempting to find someone to primary Senator Chase in a Republican primary. Chase had defeated long time friend of the leadership in Senator Steve Martin (R) in a primary before the 2015 election cycle. The Chase victory in that primary came has as one of the most historic local races and only surpassed in Virginia politics by Congressman David Brat's upset of them Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R) in a Congressional Republican primary.

If you examine the campaign contributions in 2019 amidst one of the most heated political campaign seasons in thew history of Virginia, it is clear that the Republican leadership was unwilling to provide the level of support to Senator Amanda Freeman Chase that leadership provided others. Some have attempted to argue that this was a direct result of polling throughout the campaign that indicated that Chase had at least a four point lead in her race as late as August 2019, however it was after this polling that the Republican Party of Virginia in fact made several contributions in the amount beginning in September through October totally seventy seven thousand. That being said, the leadership and Senate political action committees failed to support Chase at all while supporting multiple other Republican candidates,

State Senators right next door to Chase's district in both the 10th and 12th  were provided support via the  Republican Party of Virginia and received enormous support from Republican State Leadership Committee and the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus. In fact Senate Majority Leader Thomas "Tommy" Norment's Senate Leadership/Candidate Committee failed to support Chase yet made heavy contributions in the districts next door to Chase's.

These are the facts relating to the level that the State GOP failed to support Senator Amanda Freeman Chase:

The Norment for Senate committee supported Senator Dunnavant VA12 with 231,00 and Senator Sturtevant VA10 with 709,750. Zero for Chase.

The Republican State Leadership Committee contributed 345,000 to Senator Dunnavant and
to Senator Sturtevant 631,957. Zero for Chase.

The Virginia Senate Republican Caucus contributed 460,500 to Senator Dunnavant and
to Senator Sturtevant 591,059. Zero for Chase.

**Dunnavant would win her re-election bid by about 1% over Delegate Debra Rodman while Sturtevant lost his seat in the Senate by 9 points**

There is little indication that the Va GOP will support Chase in 2021 thus far.

Many Virginians  following Chase's lead have grown very suspicious of Senator Dunnavant who in 2020 General Assembly session appeared to betray the contingent of Second Amendment supporters that campaigned on her behalf and supported her in Hanover County which is were the precincts that thrust her to re-election. Many supporters now on social media have flooded groups with buyers remorse given Dunnavant has cast votes that her challenger in 2019 very well would have cast.

The questions regarding the failure to support Senator Chase are rampant on social media. Chase supporters have become enraged at the Republican Party and the failure of leadership to contribute last November merely double downed on constituent suspicions of the State GOP that resulted after Senator Chase resigned from the Chesterfield County Republican Committee over committee rules relating to membership being required to support/endorse any GOP nominee within the county. Chase failed to endorse a GOP nominee in Karl Leonard for Sheriff instead opting for another option thus alienating herself from her own local committee.

Nevertheless and without any true party support, Senator Amanda Freeman Chase won re-election in 2019 by about nine points over Progressive Amanda Pohl. The race for the seat was one of the most contentious on social media in 2019. One thing that supporters love about Chase is her determination to never back down in a fight. This character trait has never bode well for the "good ole boy" establishment which  behind the scenes has always wish to in effect silence Chase who never seemed capable in their eyes of staying in line with the leadership.

The division between leadership and Chase intensified following the 2019 election. Given nothing according to Chase was addressed by the leadership with regard to the lost majority, Chase walked away. The Republicans would keep the status quo even after the leadership failed to keep control of the Assembly and failed to advance true conservative agendas in the 2019 Assembly session. In fact, the leadership remained quiet regarding Governor Northam's racist "blackface" circumstance as well as Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax had sexual assault allegations levied against him by two women from his own party. Republicans sat on their hands. Failed to push for investigation by committees in the Assembly they controlled. Meanwhile, Republicans all over Virginia sat watching the House of Representatives in Congress levy investigation after investigation against President Trump.

While  Chase never ran away from Trump in 2019 many others did. Nor did she shy away from calling out Governor Northam and Lt. Governor Fairfax and the Democratic hypocrisy relating to those politicians. Chase won handlily in a pro-Trump 2016 district in 2019.

The announcement to run for Governor in 2021 certainly raises Senator Amanda Freeman Chase's profile across Virginia but it also highlights the beginning of a splintering of the Republican Party of Virginia at large. Chase has an ability to speak to those that are frustrated with the State GOP and there is certainly a new coalition forming. The movement mirrors that of the Tea Party Movement back in 2010-12 in Virginia and the Republican leadership should take notice.


It has been Senator Amanda Freeman Chase that has been leading much of the opposition. Chase recently was scolded by Senator Janet Howell (D) of Fairfax County for using her social media to communicate Assembly business to Virginians. The truth is the transparency is not something that either leadership in the Assembly prefer but Chase has determined to deliver it. Chase has in effect made political enemies on both sides of the aisle. Chase asserted that anyone in the Assembly supporting such draconian measures like red flag laws could only be characterized as "traitors to Virginia". Howell's response has been to see to it that Amanda Freeman Chase's sponsored bills have been shelved.

The response by Senator Howell is indicative of the manner in which the new majority is conducting business in the Virginia General Assembly. Supporters of Chase were quick to point out that Howell ultimately was disenfranchising representation of Virginians that live in the Virginia 11th by not permitting the bills sponsored by Chase in committee for consideration.  These tactics may be acceptable in Fairfax County by its overwhelming Democrat majority but all across Virginia this is not how the "Peoples House" is supposed to work and how Virginia business is to be conducted. Howell actually has fueled even grater opposition to her Party and contributed to the awakening that is underway going into the elections of 2020 this Fall.

 

VA07 GOP Primary Contenders 

There is little doubt that Chase will be out this Summer.There is some uncertainty whether the State GOP leadership will get behind Trump this summer. Trump lost Virginia to Hillary Clinton in 2016 but won many of the Congressional Districts like the Virginia 7th held by Democrat Abigail Spanberger since 2018.  Spanberger appears vulnerable for the Democrats in 2020 as Spanberger supported impeachment, supports gun control measures pushed in Richmond and failed to support a pay raise for the military through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in Congress. Spanberger will need support of Chesterfield County in the 2020 Election. As it stands today, Tina Ramirez and Andrew Knaggs appear to be the front runners for the GOP nomination to face Abigail Spanberger however Nick Freitas is gaining ground and funding.

The 2021 Governor's race is almost twenty one months away so Senator Chase has amble time to form her own coalition while building bridges of support with others in the upcoming 2020 Election all across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Chase would be wise to campaign across Virginia in 2020 and connect with other areas of the Commonwealth. Supporters have already taking to social media to drive her brand and raise her identification across the state. A facebook group was created in late January called "Chase for Governor 2021" and already has over eleven thousand members and growing.

Follow here on social media tot stay informed.

https://www.facebook.com/TurnVARedAgain/   The Conservative State

https://www.facebook.com/Chase-for-Governor-2021-115057180190139/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/999287823791649/

Virginia Democrats Blink: The "Delusionals" Win One

What may seem rather shocking to many Virginia Democrats and Blue Virginia, the Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee voted on February 17, 2020 to table Delegate Mark Levine's (D) from Arlington's 45th House District House Bill 961.

The controversial bill was a direct assault on the U.S. Constitution and in light of the repeated rallies and protests all over the Commonwealth and most recently against Presidential Primary Candidate Michael Bloomberg in Richmond. Virginia Democrats were forced not only to weigh those concerns but also of Supreme Court decisions.

The bill would have banned "assault style" weapons defined by Democrats such as the AR-15 as well as magazines that hold more than twelve rounds of ammunition.

"This bill will save lives" asserted Delegate Mark Levine the bill chief patron but never in all the deliberation in the House ever demonstrated how it would exactly save lives. The motive of Levine and his Progressive wing of the Virginia Democratic Party has simply been to disarm Virginians at any means necessary.

Four Democrats joined the Republican minority on the Judiciary Committee to table the measure until the next session in 2021 and determined to send the bill to the Crime Commission for review. The Republicans did the same thing when asked to hold a special session to address gun violence last summer following the Virginia Beach shooting incident in May of 2019. With all the media criticisms and the social media firestorm fueled by Blue Virginia and the Progressive advocacy groups like Mons Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety last summer after the Republicans deferred any action last summer the Virginia Democrats have done the exact same thing.

While the Democrats may have stemmed off the Republican protests, Democrats may have actually infuriated the Progressive base. Delegate Mark Levine was steaming on Monday morning following the vote given he believed the Democrats had the votes to send the measure to the Senate floor for a vote. Virginia Democrats control the Virginia Senate 21-19 and with majority very well may have been able to secure passage.

Did the moderates in the Democratic Party betray the Virginia Progressives? Betray Governor Northam?

Certainly appears so.

While Senator Dick Saslaw (D) from Fairfax voted to send the bill to the Senate, it seems ironic that the very man who triggered much of the protest by calling Virginia 2A supporters "delusional" faced hundreds of the delusional Virginians in the gallery this morning and with the help of Saslaw's fellow Democrats defeated him.

The Virginia Democrats blinked this morning. The question is what will the 124 Virginia 2A Resolution counties/cities do now that they have seen that staying engaged in the process in Richmond can in fact create successful opposition.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/578238489390036/