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December 18th, 2022 Political Note #527 Jennifer McClellan VA 04
2022 General Election
VA State Sen Jennifer McClellan
Nothing is ever easy. The Republicans make it harder.
Congressman Don McEachin died on November 28. Governor Glenn Youngkin scheduled the special election to replace him for February 21st. According to Virginia law, political parties must select their candidate no later than December 23rd.
This is a Democratic district. Representative McEachin won the 2022 general election 64.9 to 34.9. Democrats will nominate a replacement on December 20 – 2 DAYS FROM NOW.
The Democrats will select their candidate through a process called a Firehouse Primary. It is run by the political party rather than by the state. The usual voting sites do not apply. Republicans have a single voting site for the entire district. Democrats have eight. People can vote at these places between 6:00am and 7:00pm.
A conference center in Lawrenceville
A dance studio in Richmond
A gay and Lesbian events center in Richmond
A union hall in Highland Springs
A Baptist Church in Petersburg
A Library in North Chesterfield
A Parks and Recreation Center in Surry
A Government Center in Charles City
Sounds quaint. But it is in deadly earnest.
The context:
The US House of Representatives is projected to have a narrow Republican majority: 222 seats to 212. If the Democratic candidate wins the February 21st election, the Republican majority is reduced to 222 to 213. Every seat in every special election counts enormously.
Both of the two serious candidates in this race are Virginia State Senators. The Virginia State Senate is controlled by the Democrats – by a 21-18 margin. The vacancy is the result of a Republican state senator flipping the VA 02 Congressional seat. A victory by Aaron Rouse (see below) would expand the Democratic majority in the state senate to 22-18.
The contest:
Of the four candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, only two have a chance to win. Both are Virginia State Senators,
Jennifer McClellan
Joe Morrisey
I am urging you to take a minute today and donate to Jennifer McClellan. Turnout in the Firehouse Primary is crucial. Just about every dollar McClellan receives will be devoted to turning out her supporters to those eight voting sites.
Jennifer McClellan is well established in Virginia Democratic politics. She is the child of a civil rights activist and a university professor. The valedictorian of her high school class, she went to the University of Richmond and got a JD from the University of Virginia. After practicing law, she ran successfully to fill an open seat in the House of Delegates. She headed Terry McAuliffe’s transition team when he was elected governor in 2013. She is vice chair of the state Democratic party and vice chair of the legislative Black Caucus. Her mentor, US Senator Tim Kaine, performed her marriage. When she ran for the state senate in 2017, she was endorsed by both US Senators and Governor Terry McAuliffe. In her candidacy for congress, she identifies four crucial issues: revitalizing the economy, ensuring widespread availability for health care and well as abortion access, equity inclusivity and racial justice, and preventing gun violence.
Her opponent in the primary is Joe Morrisey – a maverick Democrat, The son of a doctor, he graduated from the University of Virginia, got his JD from Georgetown, and has a Master of Laws Degree from Trinity College, Dublin. He taught high school, practiced law, and taught at law schools in Ireland and Australia. He was ultimately fired from the position in Australia for failing to disclose that he had been disbarred in the US. He had been indicted and acquitted for bribery several times. The disbarment was based on inappropriate conduct including being jailed for acting on his anger. Charges of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 17 year old didn’t help — though he married her. And there’s more. He has not always been successful politically. He came in third in a race for mayor of Richmond in 2016. He was elected State Senator in 2019, defeating an incumbent in the primary with 56% of the vote, When he ran for the state senate, he said the following about himself: “I’ve spent the better part of the last decade fighting for issues important to Virginians, like the environment, reforming our criminal justice system, investing in affordable housing, fighting for Virginia’s health care and preventing gun violence,” What he did not make clear was his opposition to abortion, his radio talk show on a right wing network, and, of course, his numerous scandals.
I really do encourage a donation today. Jennifer McClellan is the right Democrat to be in the House. The only drawback to her victory is that it will leave a tie vote on abortion issues in the state senate. Unless Aaron Rouse is elected on January 10th. Send him some money, too.
Special Election January 10, 2023 – Virginia State Senate
City Councilman Aaron Rouse Len’s Political Note #524
