2017 General Election Lost 52 – 48
Third time’s the charm. Could that be the case for Willie Randall? http://www.randallfordelegate.com/
This is the third note about a candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates. Along with New Jersey, oddly, Virginia has its elections in odd years. Virginia is fairly Blue with a Democratic Governor and Lt. Governor and two Democratic Senators. Its Senate, though, is 21-19 Republican. The Governor, Lt. Governor, and other offices are up for election in 2017. The entire Senate is up for election in 2019. The entire House of Delegates is up for election in 2017.
Democrats have a substantial problem and a substantial opportunity in the House of Delegates. Democrats needed to flip seventeen seats from the Republicans. That’s an improbable undertaking — made slightly more possible by the fact that, in the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton carried seventeen House districts with Republican Delegates. In the spring, before the June primary, I am suggesting support for Democratic candidates who don’t have a primary opponent and are contesting Republicans in those seats.
Here is a candidate who is in one of the districts that Hillary carried narrowly. Still, he is appealing for his persistence and his willingness to take on a tough challenge.
Willie Randall ran for the House of Delegates for this Norfolk based district in a special election in the spring of 2014 and again in the general election of 2015. He lost by more than 60-40 the first time, less than 60-40 the second time. 2017 is his third try against the same man — owner of an auto parts store and a seafood company, son of a former member of the House of Delegates, Randall’s opponent says on his Facebook page that he is against government that will “intrude on our God-given rights.”
Can Willie Randall do better in the 2017 general election? It depends on an effective registration effort, turnout of those who are registered, and on whether or not there is a Democratic wave brewing. Democrats have won this district. Not only did Hillary carry it, so did Senator Warner. Willie Randall is an African American running in the Virginia Eastern Shore in a district that is 60% white. He is veteran running in a district that is dominated by the military. He distinguished himself in the military — earning the rank of Major and a Bronze Star during the Persian Gulf war.
Retired, Willie Randall is a family man and civic leader who wants to serve the people of the Eastern Shore and Norfolk. HIs wife is a medical doctor, his son a financial advisor. As a member and twice President of the Northampton Board of Supervisors he was the crucial figure in bringing universal preschool to Northampton County. (I almost said that he is the Bill de Blasio of the Virginia Eastern Shore, but decided against it.) Willie Randall is also credited with creating the conditions for factory revitalization that created jobs in the community. His initial route to political office was as the chair of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce and President of the Eastern Shore United Way.
Check out Willie Randall‘s website: http://www.randallfordelegate.com/ .
Learn more about him. And help him out.
