The Virginia Cornerstone PAC is attacking another statewide candidate besides Youngkin; Lee Carter challenged his primary opponents to commit to mass clemency if elected; Jones releases new ad
Afternoon update on Virginia politics
The Virginia Cornerstone PAC attacks an attorney general candidate
The Virginia Cornerstone PAC has been attacking Republican gubernatorial hopeful Glenn Youngkin since before he announced his candidacy for governor. The attacks are mostly anonymous with the funding for the PAC not showing a clear path to any of Youngkin’s opponents. But new attacks in the attorney general race provide a possible connection as to who is behind the PAC’s attacks.
For context, Youngkin has accused his gubernatorial convention opponent Pete Snyder of the anonymous attacks, but Snyder has not claimed credit.
Now the PAC is attacking attorney general candidate Chuck Smith by sending mailers to Republicans in Virginia. “Why is criminal defense attorney Chuck Smith running a negative campaign and falsely attacking his Republican opponents? To hide his record of defending illegal aliens and child predators,” the mailer reads that was paid for by the Virginia Cornerstone PAC.
Smith’s convention opponent and the assumed front runner Jason Miyares is using the political consultant group FP1 Strategies, the same group that is running Snyder’s gubernatorial campaign.
Snyder has paid FP1 strategies over $600K from his gubernatorial campaign — Miyares has paid much less but FP1 is the highest-paid political consultant group on his attorney general campaign’s payroll.
The PAC was founded by Chris Jankowski, a Republican strategist with ties to Virginia politics. He has declined in the past having any association with a campaign, but he has not disclosed who originally provided the $170K the PAC has spent on attacks.
FP1 Strategies was also paid more than $200K by Ed Gillespie’s unsuccessful 2017 gubernatorial campaign. Gillespie and Jankowski ran the Republican State Leadership Committee together in 2014 before they both resigned at the same time.
Besides Snyder and Miyares, the only other statewide candidate working with FP1 this cycle is lieutenant governor candidate Tim Hugo.
Calls to Miyares’ campaign have not been returned and attempts to contact Jankowski were not successful.
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Lee Carter challenged his primary opponents to commit to mass clemency if elected
Last week, Data for Progress in collaboration with The Appeal released national polling data showing broad public support for executive clemency as a tool to address over-incarceration. Del. Lee Carter, a Democratic hopeful for the gubernatorial nomination, is calling for all of his primary opponents to commit to using executive powers for clemency actions. “Now that it’s clear the public - Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike - support executive use of clemency to reduce over incarceration, Carter is challenging his primary opponents to commit to mass clemency and take the moral stand this moment requires,” the announcement from his campaign reads.
UNITE HERE Local 23 Endorses Terry McAuliffe for Governor
“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges to service industry employees, particularly those in hospitality, airport, airline, and food service industries. The impact this pandemic has had on our economy will be felt for years to come and our workers - many of whom were deemed essential - will bear the brunt of it,” said UNITE HERE Local 23 President Marlene Patrick-Cooper. “We need a leader who has the strong record of standing up for workers and creating jobs in Virginia and Terry McAuliffe has proven time and again that he is a champion for workers and families. We are proud to endorse Terry McAuliffe because he has bold plans to create a stronger and more equitable post-COVID economy, raise wages, and protect workers.”
Kirk Cox Takes the 1776 Pledge
Republican gubernatorial candidate Kirk Cox announced Monday that he signed a pledge to take concrete steps towards the following:
Restore honest, patriotic education that cultivates in our children a profound love for our country.
Promote a curriculum that teaches that all children are created equal, have equal moral value under God, our Constitution, and the law, and are members of a national community united by our founding principles.
Prohibit any curriculum that pits students against one another on the basis of race or sex.
Prevent schools from politicizing education by prohibiting any curriculum that requires students to protest and lobby during or after school.
"So much of what our Founding Fathers envisioned has been cast aside by far left progressive politics. We used to teach our kids that our country came together from different backgrounds to form the great American melting pot," Cox said. "Now, kids are being taught to seek out and scrutinize differences in a way that divides rather than unites. This demonization is moving our country back in time rather than guiding us forward."
Jay Jones for Attorney General Releases New Ad Featuring Governor Ralph Northam
Former Trump Administration Acting ICE Director Tony Pham Endorses Leslie Haley for Attorney General
“I'm excited to announce the endorsement of the Trump Administration's Former Acting Director of ICE Tony Pham. Tony knows that I'm the strongest candidate to clean up the Parole Board and be an advocate for Law and Order to return to our Commonwealth.
LG CANDIDATE ANDRIA McCLELLAN LAUNCHES “ROAD TO ACCESS” TOUR IN RICHMOND
Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Andria McClellan launched a tour across south and southwestern Virginia Monday morning.
“As Virginia begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic that has resulted in a loss of jobs, connections, and most tragically, loved ones, we must ensure that no community is left behind. Communities across Virginia are looking for a leader who understands their unique challenges,” said Andria McClellan, Candidate for Lieutenant Governor. “They are looking for a leader who will prioritize access to equitable opportunity, access to affordable health care, access to quality jobs and access to a livable planet. I am that leader.
McClellan’s remarks were streamed live on Facebook and are available HERE.
Senator Jeremy McPike Endorses Delegate Hala Ayala’s Campaign for Lieutenant Governor
“I am proud to endorse Delegate Hala Ayala For Lieutenant Governor,” said Senator McPike. “I have seen firsthand Hala’s ability to build coalitions and pass meaningful legislation that betters our Commonwealth. She understands the importance of policy that considers equity and justice. She has served her district well and I know she would continue this work as Lieutenant Governor. I hope you will join me in supporting her candidacy.”
