The establishment wing is worthless. Essentially Democrats who love massive government and its expansion, but don’t have the common courtesy to switch parties. Bolling & Davis exemplify that rotting, dying wing (which is rich only in money and not voters). The repudiation of Davis’s wife in the first round in the nomination for Lt Governor shows how viscerally unpopular they are.
McDonnell has been a disappointment, but frankly, if he wants to run for Senator in order to soften up Horseface Warner, let him. Cuccinelli can take out “The Eyebrow” in ‘18.
The Virginia GOP-e is apoplectic about this. The real conservatives have taken control of the party. They were afraid this would happen if the nominees were chosen through a convention rather than a primary, which is why they fought the convention tooth and nail.