Carter calls for randomized ballot order and VLBC criticizes Democratic senators
The latest news in Virginia politics and statewide campaigns.
Delegate Carter Calls for Randomization of Candidate Names on Statewide Primary Ballot
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lee Carter is once again calling for the randomization of candidates on the June 8 Democratic primary ballot. Reports have shown that being at the top of the ballot almost always has a positive impact on that candidate’s performance in the election.
Typically in Virginia, the ballot order is determined by which candidates turn in their petition signatures to the Department of Elections first. But, due to COVID-19 protocols, candidates were allowed to turn in their ballots at noon on March 8 without fear of missing out on the top ballot spot.
As long as the petitions were present at the Department of Elections by noon of March 8, they would be considered first, simultaneously, with anyone else present at noon.
The campaigns for Jennifer Carroll Foy, Terry McAuliffe, and Jennifer McClellan all turned in their physical signatures at noon, meaning there will be a drawing to determine their order on the ballot. Carter and Justin Fairfax will then follow in fourth and fifth if they submit the required signatures to qualify for the ballot.
According to a release from the Department of Elections, the online database intended for candidates to submit paperwork electronically was supposed to be available as soon as petitions were being accepted. But according to Carter, the electronic filing system was not and is still not available, preventing him from turning in his petition signatures.
“The Department of Elections, contradicting their own electronic petition submission instructions on the Candidate Bulletin, did not set up an online submission system in COMET and apparently advised some candidates to submit paper copies of electronic petitions instead,” the Carter campaign said in a press release Monday.
Carter and Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Paul Goldman filed a lawsuit in 2020 asking for several procedural changes to be made to elections this year. The judge approved other points from that lawsuit that included dropping the number of petition signatures necessary to appear on the ballot down to 2,000 and allowing candidates to collect signatures electronically. But another point in the lawsuit, randomization of candidates on the ballot, was not addressed by the court.
“We originally sued to randomize the candidate names as a matter of principle and fairness,” Delegate Carter said. “Since DOE failed to implement an electronic submission system last Monday, randomization has become essential to the integrity of this year’s process.”
Carter said in an interview that he will submit the signatures physically if he has to. “If that’s what it takes to get on the ballot, that’s what I’ll do, but I’m disgusted by the fact that they just haven’t put up the system that they called for in their own bulletin to prospective candidates.”
House Speaker Filler-Corn endorses Mark Herring for Attorney General
Speaker of the House of Delegates Eileen Filler-Corn announced Monday that she is supporting Mark Herring for attorney general as he seeks a third consecutive term.
“Mark Herring has been a leader on the issues that matter most,” said Eileen Filler-Corn, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. “Whether its fighting to expand health care access, protecting seniors from fraud, working to reduce gun violence, or working to combat sexual violence on college campuses – we can always count on Mark Herring to stand up and fight for what is right. As someone who has worked closely with him throughout my tenure in the House of Delegates, I am proud to endorse his reelection effort.”
“Speaker Filler-Corn has been a champion for small business owners, criminal justice reform, and strengthening Affordable Care Act protections, and I’m honored to have her support,” said Attorney General Mark Herring. “With the Speaker as a partner in the General Assembly, we’ll continue to tackle the most pressing issues facing communities throughout the Commonwealth, and continue our work to expand justice, equality, and opportunity for all Virginians.”
Herring is running against a member of Filler-Corn’s House caucus, Delegate Jay Jones, for the Democratic nomination. While Herring has secured the support of House leadership, Jones recently announced the endorsement of Governor Ralph Northam.
Democrats will choose their nominee in the June 8 primary election.
The VLBC Supports Greater Equity in Education & Condemns the Racist Tropes Repeated by Senators Petersen & Saslaw to defeat Delegate Tyler’s Governor’s Schools Legislation
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus issued a harsh rebuke of state Senator Chap Petersen (D) and Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw (D) after they criticized a bill that would have impacted admittance to Governor Schools in Virginia.
“The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus (VLBC) condemns the age-old racist tropes that were perpetuated in the remarks by Senator Petersen and Senator Saslaw last month during a Virginia Senate Education Committee meeting,” VLBC said in a press release Monday. “HB 2305 was drafted as a direct response to efforts by students at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, and Governor’s Schools across the Commonwealth to increase diversity in their schools. Currently, there is no clear statistic on the number of African American students who attend Thomas Jefferson High School. This is because the number is so low (less than 10 students) that the enrollment data report for the Class of 2024 listed the number as ‘N/A.’”
You can watch the full video of the meeting and hear the full context below:
Pete Snyder criticized legislation that provides in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants
The new law being referenced by Snyder will allow students who meet the criteria for in-state tuition regardless of their citizenship or immigration status shall be afforded the same educational benefits, including financial assistance programs administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the State Board for Community Colleges, or a public institution of higher education, as any other individual who is eligible for in-state tuition.
Snyder released a statement Monday in response to the new law.
"Northam has put Virginia students at the back of the line by prioritizing illegal immigrants over minority, low-income, and middle-income Virginians. This is par for the course as Northam has put the teachers union ahead of students still locked out of schools.
"But Virginians shouldn't be surprised by the disgraced governor - known for wearing black face or a klan hood - by putting illegal immigrants ahead of those Virginians most in need. The priorities of Northam and the radical left in Richmond are reckless and fail to address the most pressing issues facing Virginia, including opening our schools. It's time to put an end to the systemic incompetence that plagues our state's capital and elect conservative leaders who will get us out of this mess."
Snyder also released an anti-immigration ad recently.
GOP gubernatorial candidate Glen Youngkin aims to bolster business in Virginia - Charlottesville Today
by Charlotte Rene Woods
Former businessman Glen Youngkin stepped back from his position of CEO at private equity firm The Carlyle Group last fall in order to shift his focus to public service and politics. Touting himself as someone who isn’t a “career politician,” Youngkin is now running to be Virginia’s next governor and recently launched a political action committee to support efforts of Republicans around the state.
His inspiration for running stems in part from launching a nonprofit organization to help with employment opportunities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic along with dissatisfaction with recent democratic leadership following the terms of Gov. Ralph Northam and Terry McAuliffe — the latter of whom is seeking a second term this year.
4 Democratic candidates for Va. governor to meet in forum - Associated Press
The event dubbed the “People’s Debate” is being hosted by progressive advocacy groups and will be available to stream online.
An organizer said Lee Carter, Jennifer Carroll Foy, Jennifer McClellan and Justin Fairfax would be participating but Terry McAuliffe declined the invitation.
Democratic Party of Virginia to Launch Intensive Statewide Candidate Training Program - Blue Virginia
Today, the Democratic Party of Virginia, announced a unique partnership with the National Democratic Training Committee, launching, for the first time, an intensive eight week, virtual candidate cohort training program featuring 20 diverse candidates from all corners of the state.
This training program comes ahead of the state’s fall elections, which will be the first since the presidential, and will set the stage for the 2022 midterms. It aims to provide resources for these candidates so they can run a successful campaign that ultimately leads them to victory in their respective races and further build out the Democratic bench and brand in Virginia.
More News
Richmond Raceway will add a sports betting lounge in collaboration with WynnBET - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Michael Phillips
As sports betting gets off to a red-hot start in Virginia, with February projections estimating that north of $100 million was wagered in the state, Richmond Raceway will be the latest group to jump in.
The track is partnering with WynnBET, the mobile app run by the group behind the Wynn casino in Las Vegas.
OSIG investigator cites remarks by top Northam official in seeking expedited hearing on whistleblower status - Richmond Times Dispatch
by Mark Bowes and Patrick Wilson
The chief state investigator who substantiated violations by the Virginia Parole Board filed a motion Monday for an expedited hearing in her bid to be granted whistleblower protection status, citing “significant retaliatory actions” against her and public comments from the governor’s office since she turned over information to state legislators.
The motion filed in Richmond Circuit Court cites remarks made last week by Clark Mercer, Gov. Ralph Northam’s chief of staff, as one reason why a hearing must be held sooner rather than later on Inspector General investigator Jennifer A. Moschetti’s request for a judge to declare her a whistleblower under state law.
In leaked recording, Supervisor Pete Candland says approving apartments hurts Republicans politically - Prince Wiliam Times
by Daniel Berti
As debate continues over how to address local affordable housing challenges – and whether to develop the “rural crescent” – a 2019 recording has surfaced of a Republican Prince William supervisor saying that building more apartments in the county will hurt Republicans politically and result in fewer Republican votes.
The recording has already prompted a backlash from the Prince William Democratic Committee whose leaders say the statements made by Supervisor Pete Candland, R-Gainesville, are comparable to “redlining” and segregationist tactics historically used to keep racial and ethnic minorities out of certain neighborhoods or areas.
Virginia’s governor gets vaccine shot, still urges caution - Associated Press
by Ben Finley
Northam shed a navy blue sport jacket and a light blue dress shirt before a member of the Virginia National Guard plunged a needle into his left shoulder. Northam, who is also a doctor, gave a thumbs-up and got a round of applause at the governor’s mansion in Richmond.
“I really encourage all Virginians to register through our central registration site and really stay by your phone or your computer so that we can communicate with you because we’ve got over 400,000 doses in Virginia,” he said.