Republican Greg Habeeb kept the Salem-area 8th House of Delegates seat in Republican hands tonight with a win in a special election to fill the vacated seat of former Majority Leader and now-U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith. The details are at the Roanoke Times, here. His win keeps the GOP majority at 60-39 with one seat open (91st district) due to former Delegate Tom Gear’s sudden resignation.
Our sister organization, Family Foundation Action, has printed and put online voter guides for the January 11 special elections to fill the Virginia Senate and House seats vacated by the Congressional election victories of Republicans Robert Hurt and Morgan Griffith, respectively. The elections are in the 19th Senate district and the 8th House district. The Senate district includes Danville, Franklin, Pittsylvania and part of Campbell County. The House district includes Salem and part of Roanoke. (Click here to find out if you live in either one.)
The candidates for the Senate seat are Republican Bill Stanley and Democrat Hank Davis. The voter guide for that election can be viewed by clicking here.
The candidates for the House seat are Republican Greg Habeeb and Democrat Ginger Mumpower. The voter guide for that election is available here.
Both voter guides may printed and distributed or linked to social media sites or forwarded to friends via e-mail. To get hard copies, contact The Family Foundation at 804-343-0010. In addition, you may share or forward this link via social media sites or via e-mail.
According to Ben Pershing a little while ago at the Washington Post’s Virginia Politics blog, Virginia freshmen GOP Representatives Morgan Griffith (VA-09) and Robert Hurt (VA-05) will land on two key committees: Energy and Commerce and Financial Services, respectively. While liberal soon-to-be former Representative Rick Boucher, whom Griffith defeated, served on Energy and Commerce, no Virginia member currently sits on the equally powerful Financial Services committee, making that a huge score for Hurt. On the downside, he’ll have to put up with Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who will assume the position of ranking member (see Housing Wire) after four disastrous years as its chairman. Freshmen appointments to both committees is unusual (even Boucher had to wait a few terms before his gig started).
The news especially was welcome for Hurt who made national headlines last month at the every-two-year-ritual House office lottery for freshman, where he had the misfortune of drawing the highest number and, therefore, the least desirable office space (see Jake Gibson at FoxNews.com). He needed the office karma of Kirk Cox. As for Virginia’s other freshman GOP House member, Scott Rigell (VA-02) is awaiting, but expected to get, a spot on the Armed Services Committee, an assignment Virginians from either party from that district almost always get because of the large military presence in Hampton Roads.
When news broke Monday that Delegate Kirk Cox (R-66, Colonial Heights), not unexpectedly, was elected by his House GOP colleagues to Majority Leader, we offered that the real suspense of General Assembly insiders is where his new office will be. As majority whip, he had a basic corner office in the General Assembly Building. But last session, when he ascended to vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, he gained one of only two prestigious ninth floor perches. As the Majority Leader, would he move to the sixth floor where the leadership of each party and chamber has a suite of high profile space? Who would get the newly vacated space he would not use?
These are the questions that buzz around Capitol Square. Now, we are the first to report the answers.
According to reliable sources, Delegate Cox will keep both! As one observer said, the sixth floor office has no windows, so it makes sense to keep the ninth floor space as well. Another said the windowless Majority Leader’s office was perfect for its most recent inhabitant, newly elected Congressman Morgan Griffith, because of his nose-to-the-grindstone persona. Besides, the sixth floor office is right at the entrance to the GAB stairwell, which, for all practical purposes, is a fire lobbyist escape.
But not only will the new Majority Leader have the two GAB offices, he’ll also have, we forgot to mention last time, an office in Mr. Jefferson’s Capitol — as do the Speaker and the Minority Leader. He’s accumulating more real estate than Donald Trump, but he will need it. With so much on his plate, the offices will serve as hideouts to secure himself from and misdirect the special interests who are sure to hound him. As well as we know Delegate Cox, we’re confident he’ll handle all of his new responsibilities with great grace, equanimity and humility.
Yesterday, the Republican Caucus in the House of Delegates elected Delegate Kirk Cox (R-66, Colonial Heights) to majority leader and Delegate Bill Janis (R-56, Henrico) to majority whip. The election was necessary (see Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog) after current Majority Leader Morgan Griffith was elected to the House of Representatives from Virginia’s 9th congressional district, defeating 28-year incumbent Rick Boucher during last month’s Republican wave. Cox was the majority whip. Both were unchallenged (see Richmond Times-Dispatch).
Statements from the principles include this from Speaker Bill Howell (R-66, Fredericksburg) (see entire statement, here):
Both of these individuals are trusted allies and talented lawmakers with remarkable backgrounds that they’ve used to help House Republicans offer practical solutions and deliver real results.
Kirk is an outstanding member of the House who I rely on . . . for thoughtful analysis and strategic insights on the important challenges and opportunities facing taxpayers, families, businesses and Virginia. Not only is he a widely acknowledged “go-to” person on the state budget, education, military and natural resource issues, but Kirk also has done a superb job as House Majority Whip counting votes and building support for our ideas.
Likewise, Bill is an engaged and detail-oriented delegate who contributes so much to our Caucus and Commonwealth. His service on key House committees has provided Bill with a firm understanding of the issues and how they impact people of all walks of life. I’m confident that he will continue helping to identify policy goals and forge coalitions in support of sensible legislation that will improve the quality of life for all Virginians.
From Cox:
We have many challenging years ahead with tight budgets and a need to grow private sector jobs. I look forward to working hard with House Republicans and all of my legislative colleagues to address these challenges and the aspirations of the people of Virginia as the next House Majority Leader.
From Janis:
I relish the opportunity to serve as the new House Majority Whip. Together, we’re going to help put Virginians back to work by promoting legislation that fosters an environment conducive to more job growth, more economic opportunity and more prosperity for all Virginians.
Okay, the formalities are out of the way. Now, the question is, what will happen to some very valuable General Assembly Building real estate? Delegate Cox — now one of the most powerful delegates ever outside of a speaker as majority leader and vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee — already has a large and prestigious ninth floor GAB office per his role on Appropriations. But as majority leader, he also will have a large and prestigious suite on the sixth floor where the leaders of both parties and chambers have offices. Which will he choose? Or can he keep both? If he chooses the ninth floor, will Delegate Janis get the sixth floor office (whips don’t have offices there)? If he chooses the sixth floor, who gets the ninth floor office?
These are the intriguing questions that drive the General Assembly. We’ll keep you posted.
Another annoucement regarding the November Speaks! rally on November 15 on Capitol Hill in Washington: Americans For Prosperity launched a new Web site for the event which includes a page where you can participate in a virtual rally if you can’t make it to the nation’s capital (click here). The rally is designed to raise awareness of, and put pressure on, the lame duck Congress to stand down from any grandiose schemes for still larger government, higher taxes, debilitating regulations and crushing debt, all of which amounts to more control from Washington and less freedom everywhere else.
Ignoring the recent election results, Nancy Pelosi yesterday brazenly threw a celebratory party to laud her “accomplishments.” But she’s not done yet. Starting Monday, she is reconvening Congress, while she still wields the Speaker’s gavel, for one last attempt to ram through the big-government takeovers that remain on her leftist agenda. It’s already being referred to as the “Zombie Congress” since so many members are the walking politically dead. Rejected overwhelmingly by the voters, they should not trample on the will of the people and leave quietly, having done enough damage.
Among the speakers at November Speaks! are U.S. Representatives Michele Bachman (R-Minn.) (see Paul Bedard’s U.S. News Washington Whispers blog), Mike Pence (R-Ind.) (see the Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire blog) and newly elected Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) (see the Washington Post’s Virginia Politics blog), as well as AFP President Tim Phillips. Other partners in staging November Speaks! are 60 Plus, Let Freedom Ring, Institute For Liberty, Tea Party D.C. and Smart Girl Politics. For more information about attending in person, click here.
Representative-Elect Morgan Griffith (Roanoke Times) will make his Washington debut at the November Speaks rally on Capitol Hill on November 15 (click here for more information). Representative Mike Pence (R-Ind.), The Family Foundation Gala keynote speaker and a potential presidential candidate, also has committed to speak at the event. They will join previously announced Representative Michele Bachman and Americans For Prosperity President Tim Phillips. The event will call the public’s attention to the lame duck Congress’ attempts to sneak unpopular legislation through, now that many of them have been retired by the voters, as well as send a warning signal to the new Congress to live up to its promises.
This just in, via Jim Hoeft at Bearing Drift: Fifth District Republican Chairman Bill Stanley will seek the party’s nomination for the 19th district Virginia Senate seat that will become open once Congressman-elect Robert Hurt officially resigns to assume his new office. Governor Bob McDonnell will call a special election at that time.
Bill Stanley, Chairman of the GOP’s Fifth District Congressional Committee, will be running for the State Senate to replace Congressman-elect Robert Hurt. It is our understanding that the Democrats are not fielding a candidate at this time (Update: Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors Chairman Hank Davis may be interested . . . more to follow).
However, Bill is expecting at least one, if not more, names to come out for the R nod, where they expect a three week nominating process.
He also quotes sources citing Republican Delegates Danny Marshall, Don Merricks and Charles Poindexter, as well as Danville City Councilman Fred Shanks, as declining to run for different reasons. Another special election will be called to replace House of Delegates Majority Leader Morgan Griffith who was elected to Congress last night from the ninth Congressional district.
The results of yesterday’s elections are historic in many obvious ways. Unlike 1994, Virginians participated in making that history by turning over three liberal incumbent members of the House of Representatives (see Washington Post), including a 28-year veteran previoulsy thought unbeatable, someone who hadn’t had a competitive race in years. So we congratulate three friends of The Family Foundation who won their races yesterday and are on their way to Congress:
» Congressman-elect Morgan Griffith (Newsweek’s The Gaggle blog), a 100 percent TFF voter as a member of the House of Delegates;
» Congressman-elect Robert Hurt (Danville Register & Bee), a 91 percent TFF voter as a member of the Virginia Senate; and
» Congressman-elect Scott Rigell (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot), a donor to our organization.
In the 11th district, liberal incumbent Gerry Connolly has a narrow lead over conservative challenger Keith Fimian, a vote likely to be recounted (Wall Street Journal Washington Wire blog). Pending that outcome, eight of Virginia’s 11 Representatives are Republican. We were pleased to participate in the voter education and get-out-the-vote efforts in these districts. Some of you may have received our GOTV phone calls over the weekend.
In some ways, though, the elections went beyond politics. While the national and state media focus on Congressional outcomes, something happened a bit below the surface that is even more historic — and perhaps longer term.
For example, at least 19 state legislative bodies, including those in Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Iowa, North Carolina and Ohio flipped partisan control to Republicans (John Hood at National Review’s The Corner blog and Ryan Beckwith at CQ Politics’ The Eye blog). In fact, the North Carolina Legislature is Republican for the first time since 1870. The Alabama legislature is Republican for the first time since 1876.
I don’t tell you that to trumpet Republicans, but because our sister family policy council organizations inform us that many of those elected yesterday support pro-family policies. These organizations ran campaigns similar to our Winning Matters 2009 program and saw pro-life, pro-family candidates win across the board. More important than simply electing people of one particular party, citizens in these states elected pro-family conservatives.
Possibly more telling, voters in Iowa defeated three Supreme Court judges instrumental in imposing homosexual marriage on that state against the will of the people via judicial fiat (New York Times). It is the first time since judges have been on the ballot in Iowa (1962) that they have been defeated on Election Day. Once again, when the issue of marriage is put to the people, traditional marriage wins.
Now, the question is, will the message sent by the voters yesterday carry over into next year’s crucial Virginia Senate elections? Will party leaders get the message that motivates voters and give us candidates that are unapologetically pro-life and pro-family? Will Virginia follow the lead of other states that brought wholesale change to their legislatures? Will party leaders endorse incumbents for the sake of “party unity” or listen to the voters? Time will tell if they truly got the message.
Republican House candidate Morgan Griffith, the House of Delegates Majority Leader, continues to gain momentum Virginia’s 9th congressional district race. Starting off 20 points down in its first poll a few months ago, the last News7/SurveyUSA poll released a week ago shows a change in the numbers between long-time incumbent Rick Boucher and Delegate Griffith (see SurveyUSA for analysis).
Just a few weeks ago, Boucher appeared to be cruising to another term with double-digit leads. Each subsequent poll showed Griffith making progress until he was within striking distance, and now, possibly poised to a major upset. According to the poll, the race is too close to call as independents have shifted their votes to Griffith, and Boucher’s lead among women has evaporated.
Here is a look at the results (see WDBJ.com/News7 for more):
Morgan Griffith (R): 47 percent
Rick Boucher (D): 46 percent
Jeremiah Heaton (I): 4 pecent
Undecided: 3 percent
Margin of error: 4.1 percent
But there’s more to the story. The independent, Mr. Heaton, isn’t only a wild card, he’s more like a wild man. In the most recent debate, he relentlessly attacked Griffith on personal matters, including his wife, while nary a complaint against the incumbent. That’s particularly odd, since since elections are referendums on incumbents. But the out of left field attacks on Delegate Griffith’s family were over the top. It led to much suspicion in the local media about not only why Mr. Heaton made the attacks, but who put him up to it (see Roanoke Times). Adding to the intrigue was Mr. Boucher’s “good cop” approach, which was strange considering his perilous position in the polls. But why do the dirty work if a rapid dog is willing to do it for you?
But it wouldn’t be the Fightin’ Ninth if not for still more controversy. The Washington Examiner’s David Freddoso recently reported that Mr. Boucher, on top of buying a new Fordwith campaign cash (see Not Larry Sabato), he’s been vacationing in plush Rocky Mountain ski resorts on lobbyists money. Seems Mr. Boucher has parlayed his sellout of the coal industry into some influence among the special interests, basically flaunting it in a district that is seeing some of the worst economic conditions in the country.
It’s all a Winter Wonderland to Mr. Boucher who seems more and more out of touch with his constituents. Will he be out of a job late tonight?
Will it only snow . . . or completely avalanche on Rick Boucher and the Democrats tonight?