Pending the results of the all but inevitable recount in the Attorney General’s race, two Republicans have announced their bids for the nomination to win Mark Herring’s State Senate seat in the 33rd District.
10th District Chairman John Whitbeck announced his candidacy last night:
“I have personally spoken to Mark Obenshain about my announcement, and we are working very hard together to ensure that he is next Attorney General,” said Whitbeck. “However, as Mark agrees, we need to be prepared to run this campaign depending on what happens with the recount.”
“I am running for the State Senate to ensure Obamacare is not expanded in Virginia, to make sure tax dollars taken from our region for transportation stay in our region, and that our children have access to a world-class education.”
“With millions of Americans losing their health insurance and many suffering from increased healthcare costs, it is unfortunate that Terry McAuliffe has signaled his intention to force the expansion of Obamacare on Virginians. This divisive plan would hurt Virginia families and businesses, and we will need effective leadership in Richmond to stop it.”
In a release this morning, Ron Meyer, who had been running for the Republican nomination for the 11th Congressional District, pivoted to focus instead on the State Senate race:
“I am announcing today that I am suspending my campaign for Congress to run in the pending special election in the 33rd Senate District. I have received scores of calls and encouraging emails from grassroots Republicans all over the district saying that we must start now to elect an energetic, commonsense conservative that will unite the party and take back a seat that the Democratic Party has held for far too long.
“It is critical that Republicans win the majority in the State Senate to continue the progress that has been made in Virginia in recent years. I’m running as the 21st vote to reform education; the 21st vote against robbing education and transportation dollars to expand Obamacare; the 21st vote to reduce taxes and allow Virginians to keep more money in their pocket; the 21st vote to grow private sector jobs in emerging technologies; and the 21st vote for commonsense checks-and-balances in Virginia government.”
The Democrats have already selected their nominee via firehouse primary this past Saturday, before the AG results were even certified by the State Board of Elections. Leesburg attorney Jennifer Wexton won over Herndon Town Council member Shelia Olem 729 to 433.
Mark Obenshain has yet to ask for a recount after the SBE certified Herring the winner of the AG race by 165 votes, or 0.007% of all votes cast.
