More endorsements for candidates in primary races
A House candidate is allowed to remain on the ballot even though he lives in a friend’s garage
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The rundown
Two more state Senators endorse Glen Sturtevant
Stoney endorses McPike
A House candidate is allowed to remain on the ballot even though he lives in a friend’s garage
Davis is going to the Dept. of Energy and more headlines
Youngkin went to Japan as he continues traveling abroad
Gov. Glenn Youngkin met with Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida in Tokyo to discuss opportunities for additional trade and foreign investment between Virginia and Japan on Thursday, his office says.
“As Japan maintains its economic stature and strength, Virginia looks forward to continuing a reciprocal trade relationship that benefits both players,” Youngkin said in a press release. “Together we can advance our shared goals and vision for a more productive and prosperous future.”
The governor’s office says he expressed his appreciation for Japan’s partnership and support as trade and investment partners for the United States and Virginia.
Governor Youngkin expressed his interest in continued coordination in bilateral trade investments between Virginia and Japan, his office says.
Related: Youngkin in Japan to forge supply chains with ‘friends’ - AP
Sturtevant receives more support from the Republican Senate Caucus
Glen Sturtevant’s state Senate campaign is being endorsed by Sens. David Suetterlein and Mark Obenshain today. Sturtevant is challenging Amanda Chase for the Republican nomination in SD-12. Tina Ramirez is also seeking the Republican nomination.
Obenshain: “Glen Sturtevant is the strong, principled, conservative voice we need in the Virginia Senate. Glen is a servant leader who is invested in his community and understands how to implement our conservative agenda in the Senate. We need Glen in the Senate to give Virginia parents choices and power in the education of their children, keep divisive ideologies out of our schools, and protect innocent human life and our Second Amendment rights.”
Suetterlein: “Glen Sturtevant has time and time again proven to be an effective conservative leader. Glen is a man of his word who fights hard for his constituents and taxpayers across the Commonwealth. Too often we see folks continuously run for various offices for the wrong reasons. Glen is in this race for the right reasons: to serve his neighbors and restore a Virginia Senate committed to protecting Virginia families and advancing our freedoms. Glen Sturtevant represents Chesterfield and Colonial Heights’ best chance to send effective, conservative leadership to the Virginia Senate.”
Primary day is June 20.
Registrar rules that a House candidate living in a friend’s garage has eligible residency
H/T to Cardinal News for first reporting that Tim Griffin will be allowed to run for the House of Delegates even though his residency is listed as a friend’s garage. His residency was not directly being challenged, but his status as a registered voter in the district was in question due to him not residing in a legal dwelling.
Griffin is seeking the Republican nomination in HD-53, an open Republican-friendly seat. Sarah Mays is also seeking the nomination.
Griffin is the chair of the Bedford County Republican Committee.
From Cardinal News: “The challenge to Griffin was not over whether he resides in the district he is running for, but over his status as a registered voter. The petition, filed with the registrar’s office on April 6, alleged that Griffin ‘failed to establish residency and domicile at his 102 N. Woodfin Court address in Forest, VA, which is a portion of Bedford County,’ and asked Griffin be removed from the voter rolls.”
More from Cardinal News: “Petitioners argued the address listed on Griffin’s voter registration application is for the house of the property owner, not the detached garage in which Griffin has been living. The claim in the petition stated Griffin ‘attempted to establish residence in a detached garage owned by a friend for the purposes of establishing a voter registration residence’ on the very day he filed to run for the House”
The move from three residents who were seeking to remove Griffin from the ballot was eventually unsuccessful, however.
Griffin and Mays are facing off in a May 6 convention.
Stoney Endorses McPike over Guzman
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney is endorsing state Sen Jeremy McPike (D) over Del. Elizabeth Guzman (D) in the primary for SD-29.
Del. Glenn Davis to take on new role leading Virginia Department of Energy - Virginian-Pilot
by Katie King
Del. Glenn Davis, R-Virginia Beach, resigned from the House of Delegates on Monday and is taking on a new role with the Virginia Department of Energy.
The former legislator said Wednesday that he accepted an offer from Gov. Glenn Youngkin to serve as the department’s director.
Frustrations over housing, data centers fuel local elections in Northern Va. - WaPo
By Antonio Olivo and Teo Armus
Northern Virginia’s local election races are in full gear, with early voting set to start May 5 in party nomination contests where candidates are battling over how to address the need for affordable housing, the climate crisis and a surge of data center development in the exurbs.
The region is still dealing with the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, during which many residents have experienced higher cost of living while salaries have remained mostly stagnant.