Bearing Drift has learned that Sen. Bill Stanley has been certified as the Republican nominee for the 20th Senate District race. This development comes after Stanley’s announced primary challenger, Lt. Col. Doug Dunlap and 2007 nominee Jeff Evans, both failed to garner enough petition signatures to be placed on the ballot. With Dunlap and Evans out of the race for the Republican nomination, Bill Stanley’s name has been sent to the State Board of Elections and the 20th District’s mass meeting has been canceled.
Shortly after announcing his intention to relocate into the 20th District to challenge incumbent Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, Bill Stanley received the endorsement of Gov. Bob McDonnell–a move that prompted Jeff Evans to eschew all endorsements from outside the district–likely solidifying Stanley’s position as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination.
Without having a nomination contest, 20th District Republicans will now be able to unite behind Bill Stanley, raise the funds and build the campaign infrastructure necessary to defeat a longtime incumbent.
UPDATE: The problem with breaking news is that it is, well, breaking. Later last night, Shaun Kenney confirmed that the GOP’s nominee for this seat in the last election, Jeff Evans, did have the required signatures to be a candidate for the party’s nomination, but has opted to run for the seat as an independent. My apologies for any incorrect information that I conveyed yesterday as the story broke.
