When endorsing incumbents, either the challenger did not make the case to remove the incumbent from office or the incumbent has made the case for their return. With this view in mind, Bearing Drift recommends that Virginia’s Republican incumbents clearly warrant a return to Washington.
Rep. Rob Wittman (1st District)
Opposing the mistakes of the Obama Administration can be difficult, even for a Republican. Far more difficult, however, is opposing the mistakes of your own party’s Administration. Wittman has done both. During the Obama Administration, he has opposed the stimulus debacle, the first Obama budget, and Obamacare. Moreover, he also stood up to leaders of both parties – including Obama and Bush – in opposing the bank bailout (otherwise known as TARP). His determination to defend his constituents from big government and big mistakes has given him added credibility when protecting the military (and jobs in the district) from officials who are unable to see the nature of our enemies through green eye-shades.
Rep. Scott Rigell (2nd District)
Rep. Randy Forbes (4th District)
Forbes is a tireless advocate for fiscal sanity in an otherwise insane world. Forbes voted against every bailout and stimulus package brought forward by both the Bush and Obama administrations. As chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, he has fought against changing the port of an aircraft carrier from Norfolk to Mayport, Fla., preserved many of the jobs of the former Joint Forces Command, and has strongly argued against massive defense cuts in the so-called “sequestration” budget deal. He has also been an advocate for the advancement of the modeling and simulation industry, which continues to bring jobs to Hampton Roads. As chairman of the Congressional China Caucus, he is fully aware and well-versed in our foreign policy in Asia. As chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, he remains grounded in his faith. And, he’s one of the few members of Congress to actually propose a plan to harness and develop innovations in energy production with his “new Manhattan project,” while also advocating an “all of the above” energy approach.
Rep. Robert Hurt (5th District)
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (6th District)
Goodlatte represents one of the most conservative Congressional districts in Virginia and his votes in Congress reflect those values. His votes reflect fiscal responsibility, and he introduced the Tax Code Termination Act that would repeal the entire tax code. He believes in and works for a strong national defense, consumer protection, and has worked on a variety of policies regarding the internet. Representing such a rural area, Goodlatte has been a strong advocate for farmers and the special issues they face. His position as a member of the Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry is logical because of the vast areas of national forests — George Washington and Jefferson — that are within the boundaries of his district. Goodlatte serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet, and is vice chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
Rep. Eric Cantor (7th District)
Cantor is pro-business, pro-Israel, believes in less government and is right on social issues. As Majority Leader, Cantor has been on the front lines in passing job-creating legislation and a responsible budget only to see them stalled time and again by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Democratic Senate. He has made Virginia and his district proud by being a national leader in the conservative movement, standing on the firm ground of principle. Cantor’s opponent is a Democrat who won’t call himself a Democrat. Wayne Powell has run a mean-spirited campaign that even PolitiFact has found to be dishonest (repeatedly). His low road approach to campaigning would be laughable were it not so despicable. Cantor is extremely popular in his district, routinely receiving 60% of the vote. We do not expect the results to change this year, nor should they.
Rep. Morgan Griffith (9th District)
Griffith has quickly distinguished himself as a defender of jobs in this ruinous economy, voting often in opposition to the greatest danger to all of Virginia: the EPA and its war on coal, natural gas, and petroleum. He is a strong advocate for jobs and energy development by favoring legislation that would permit vast areas of Alaska to be used for oil production, build the Keystone pipeline, and open up Virginia’s offshore area for energy exploration. Griffith also supported ending Solyndra style welfare to failing energy companies and investigated the same company as a member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. His opponent, Anthony Flaccavento, seems to know little about Southwest Virginia and has only vague solutions to the problems facing this district. Flaccavento proposes that laid off miners get manufacturing jobs, but doesn’t say where the factories will come from. In the meantime, Griffith has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association, is a “Friend of the Farm Bereau” from the American Farm Bureau Federation and was named as a “top conservative” by the American Conservative Union. Morgan Griffith will continue to work for affordable energy, creating jobs, and holding the EPA accountable on behalf of all Virginians.
Rep. Frank Wolf (10th District)
The senior member of the Virginia congressional delegation, Wolf puts his experience to work for his district. He has fought to bring accountability to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, secured federal funding for transportation projects, and worked with state and local officials on projects to ease congestion at key traffic choke points. The Northern Virginia Regional Task Force, one of his signature initiatives, has made a significant difference in reducing gang violence in the district. As co-chairman of the Human Rights Commission, Wolf is motivated by his faith and deep belief in human freedom to speak up for the voiceless, leading Congress in passing legislation combating religious persecution and human trafficking. Perhaps most importantly, Wolf understands the impending budgetary crisis and he is committed to addressing congressional overspending by reforming entitlements tax policy, closing tax loopholes and simplifying the tax code. Voters will appreciate Wolf’s proactive transparency as he is one of a very few members of Congress who posts his entire voting record on his congressional website annually.
