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Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) is endorsing Vic McKenzie in HD-82. He is running against Kim Pope Adams for the Democratic nomination. Del. Kim Taylor (R) is the incumbent that the Democratic nominee will eventually have to face in November.
“Victor McKenzie has dedicated his life to serving others. From his work as Executive Director of a substance use recovery non-profit to his consistent community advocacy, Victor has proven to be the leader that will help move us forward together and improve our communities.” Spanberger said. “There is so much on the line this election cycle — including our access to healthcare and our children’s safety — so we must do everything we can to flip this seat from red to blue. I know Victor can do that and more, and that’s why I’m proud to endorse him for the 82nd district in the House of Delegates.”
Adams dropped out of the race for a few hours last month before changing her mind and keeping her campaign active.
According to VPAP, this will likely be a highly competitive district in November.
Taylor has been relatively quiet but she held a fundraiser Wednesday with Republicans in the area that was headlined by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Mike Cherry, Carrie Coyner, Glenn Youngkin, Kim Taylor
HD-82 is comprised of Petersburg and Surry with parts of Prince George and Dinwiddie Counties included.
Taylor is not being challenged for the Republican nomination.
Primary day in this district is June 20.
Former Youngkin advisors have prominent roles helping DeSantis
Jeff Roe is the owner of Axiom Strategies and was a main force behind Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s successful 2021 campaign for governor. Now he is working to stop Trump’s attempted return to politics by helping Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign from the outside.
DeSantis’ PAC, Never Back Down, is expected to have a more prominent role in his campaign than the actual staff — even though the PAC cannot communicate directly with the candidate.
“Roe will be one of the most important figures on Never Back Down. This won’t be the first time that Roe's Axiom Strategies has come up against Trump: Roe led Sen. Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign, when he finished second in the primaries. He’ll be looking to do one better with DeSantis this time around. Axiom has led a litany of campaigns in recent years, establishing itself as a dominant force in the GOP consulting sector: Roe’s firm brought in $196 million in the last election cycle, and made $22 million in profit. Last cycle was relatively unsuccessful in terms of winning races: Only 30 percent of Axiom’s federal clients won their races. Roe did have one major success recently when he helped Glenn Youngkin flip the Virginia governor’s mansion in 2021.”
Additionally, Matt Wolking, who was a staffer on the 2020 Trump campaign is all in for DeSantis. Roe and Wolking worked together on Youngkin’s 2021 campaign and he eventually joined Axiom as an employee.
Roe taking this job to help DeSantis beat Trump was seen as an early sign that Youngkin would not be entering the race for president — but Youngkin has yet to fully commit to not running.
Anytime it appears that Youngkin is either definitely not running or is considering running, his team quickly cleans it up to ensure that the world remains in limbo about the governor’s intentions.
Chris Piper is named the new Executive Director of VPAP
Former Virginia Elections COmmissioner Chris Piper has been selected to take over the executive director position at VPAP after the founder David Poole leaves next month.
“When the Board of Directors undertook the task of finding a new executive director for VPAP we knew we were facing a daunting task to replace the quarter of a century of excellence and trust that David Poole established,” said Bill Leighty, chair of the VPAP Board of Directors.
Vice Chair Abby Farris Rogers said that Piper’s experience in campaign finance and elections vaulted him ahead of more than 150 applicants. “The Board is confident that we have found the right leader to advance VPAP’s nonpartisan mission,” she said.
He had been the head of two state agencies – the Virginia Department of Elections and the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council – that provide the bulk of data that VPAP collects and analyzes.
Piper will report to VPAP’s bipartisan Board of Directors and lead its staff as the organization pursues its mission of elevating public understanding of Virginia politics by organizing and presenting information in ways that are easily accessible and free of partisan bias.
“I’ve worked with Chris Piper for two decades,” Poole said. “I am confident in his ability and his passion for the work. He is a natural fit for a leader to build on what we’ve started.”
Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg Endorses Destiny LeVere Bolling
VanValenburg endorsed Bolling for the HD-80 Democratic nomination. Bolling is running against John Danztler for the nomination.
“I am thrilled to endorse Destiny LeVere Bolling for the 80th District of the House of Delegates,” said VanValkenburg. “I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to work together and keep Henrico moving forward. Destiny's dedication to our community, fresh ideas and collaborative approach make her the ideal candidate. Let's unite in supporting Destiny for a prosperous future as we continue to progress in Henrico.”
“More than 450 people.packed a hotel ballroom for the annual 'Lilghten Up' lunch that features political humor and hijinks. The bipartisan headliners were Del. Carrie Coyner (R-Chesterfield) and Sen. Monty Mason (D-Williamsburg). The fundraiser raised $241,000, or about one-fifth of VPAP's annual operating budget. The event is a reminder that while politics is serious business, we don't always have to take ourselves too seriously.”
Sen. Monty Mason mentions Joe Morrissey being banned from jail:
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Mason talks about Youngkin’s red vests being made in China
Myrna Morrissey alleges assault, manipulation by Sen. Morrissey in divorce filing - RTD
by Patrick Wilson
yrna Morrissey, the estranged wife of state Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Chesterfield, alleges in a court filing that he assaulted and emotionally abused her during their marriage while asking her to keep up the appearance of a happy life so he could advance politically.
Her allegations are a contrast to public portrayals of the couple in recent years. The couple married in 2016 following Sen. Morrissey’s December 2014 conviction on a misdemeanor crime because their relationship began in 2013, when she was 17 years old. Sen. Morrissey, 55 in 2013, served nights in jail for more than three months as a member of the House of Delegates.
Hanover's Buddy Fowler faces 2 challengers in 59th District GOP primary - RTD
by Eric Kolenich
Del. Hyland “Buddy” Fowler, R-Hanover, is seeking a sixth term in the House of Delegates, but next month he will face two lawyers challenging him in the Republican primary for a newly drawn district.
Fowler’s competition: Graven Craig and Philip Strother. Craig is a trial attorney from Louisa County, and Strother is a civil lawyer and winery owner who lives in Henrico County.
