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Republicans maintained control of both congressional seats that were up for grabs in special elections Tuesday in Ohio and Virginia, disappointing Democrats who had hoped to extend their gains in the House. In Ohio, a state representative defeated a Democrat making her third run for the seat. And in Virginia, a first-term state legislator easily won. Both elections were to fill seats left vacant by deaths. Jo Ann Davis, who had represented a southeastern Virginia district for seven years, died of breast cancer in October. Rep. Paul Gillmor, first elected in a northwest Ohio district in 1988, died in a...

According to the State Board of Elections, Wittman won the race by 60.23%, to fill the seat of the late JoAnn Davis.

The Politico) GOP state Del. Rob Wittman is heading to a landslide victory over Iraq war veteran Phil Forgit (D) in today's Virginia special election to succeed the late Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-Va). With 67 percent of precincts reporting, Wittman has won 63 percent of the vote, while Forgit has only tallied 35 percent. Most of the outstanding vote is from Republican-heavy parts of the district, making it all-but-impossible for Forgit to close the gap. Neither party’s congressional campaign committee spent much money in the district, but the NRCC had spent money to produce a campaign ad, which they...

Rob Wittman is the Republican running in the Dec. 11 special election to replace the late Joann Davis for Congress. He has solid, conservative credentials. Check out his website to contribute.... http://www.robwittmanforcongress.com/

At a raucous convention that drew more than 1,000 delegates to Caroline County, Wittman won the nod after trailing most of the night. His victory came at the expense of Paul Jost, the James City County businessman and anti-tax activist who built a solid lead in early voting and packed the hall with five busloads of supporters. "I think folks just caught on to our message," said Wittman shortly after accepting the nomination. "We're just getting back to the basics of good government." Wittman, 48, now becomes the favorite in the Dec. 11 special election called to replace Davis, who...

For Immediate Release * * * * * * * * * * * Contact: Herb Lux 540.786.7650 hlux@comcast.net October 19, 2007 DICK BLACK ANNOUNCES BID FOR VIRGINIA'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SEAT Black: "This campaign is about who can best serve the good people of Virginia's First..." FREDERICKSBURG, Virginia -- Dick Black today announced his Bid For Virginia's 1st Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. "This campaign is about who can best represent the good people of Virginia's 1st Congressional District," Black said. "This campaign is about government of, by and for the people of Virginia's First."...

The death of Rep. Jo Ann Davis has left a large field of potential candidates to serve the remainder of her two-year term in the House. But out of respect for Mrs. Davis, both parties say the contest should not take shape until after her funeral this week. "It really hurts, it really does," Mike Wade, 3rd Congressional Republican District chairman, said yesterday. "No matter who replaces her, I don't know if anyone can fill her shoes right off the bat. ...I hope everyone shows the respect and dignity to Jo Ann Davis that she deserves, by sitting tight and...

WASHINGTON - Chuck Davis, husband of the late Rep. Jo Ann Davis, is seriously considering running for his wife's congressional seat in hopes of completing her legacy, according to several Republican activists. "He is considering very strongly running," said Brenda Pogge, a longtime Davis family friend and a candidate for state delegate. "A lot of people are extremely excited about it. Chuck's willingness to run will avoid a train wreck in the 1st District." The likely move could make Davis, a retired Hampton firefighter, the early frontrunner in a special election later this year that could draw many contenders for...

Rep. Jo Ann Davis, a Virginia Republican first elected to the House of Representatives in 2000, died on Saturday after a long battle with breast cancer, her spokesman said. She was 57. Davis, who died at her home in Gloucester, Virginia, had a mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and was able to return her job, spokesman Chris Connelly said. "She was back and doing well and then she had a recurrence at the beginning of 2007," he said. Davis served on the House Armed Services and the House Foreign Affairs committees. Her heavily Republican district along...

(Washington, D.C.) – Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis died at her Gloucester home this morning after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was 57. Davis was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and had a re-occurrence earlier this year. Davis had been receiving breast cancer treatment at Duke University and just recently had received positive reports on her condition. However, during the last week Davis’ health took a turn for the worse. Details of the funeral services will be forthcoming.

Rep. Jo Ann Davis, battling a recurrence of cancer, voted in the House on only four days last month out of 16 days when votes were cast. The 1st District Republican is getting chemotherapy treatments and trying to work in Washington when she is well enough to travel, her chief of staff said last week. Otherwise, she works from her Gloucester County home. "She has her good weeks, and she has her tough weeks," aide Chris Connelly said. "The chemo has made it difficult for her to get to Washington." "Chemo makes people sick," he added. "It's a difficult road...

HAMPTON--U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis, a Republican, hasn't ever agreed with Sen. Hillary Clinton on anything. But she is siding with the New York Democrat in calling for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. "I've made no bones about it the last two years," the 1st District congresswoman told members of the Hampton Roads Chapter of the American Society of Military Comptrollers. "He's probably a nice guy, but I don't think he's a great secretary of defense." Davis said she based her determination in part on Rumsfeld's handling of the war in Iraq. She pointed to his 2003 firing of Gen....

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) - A Spotsylvania County man is running as an independent against 1st District Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis. Retired Marine Colonel Marvin Pixton says he doesn't like the current state of politics, and says there's too much bickering between the two parties. He says he's not running against the incumbent but rather he's running for a change in Washington. Pixton says transportation will be his main issue. He says Americans are too dependent on cars. Fredericksburg businessman Shawn O'Donnell is running against Davis as a Democrat. Pixton announced his candidacy in Fredericksburg Monday morning. He says he's qualified...

The split between Virginia's two Republicans on the Senate immigration reform bill yesterday mirrored divisions across the nation. Sen. George Allen, the more conservative of Virginia's senators, voted against the bill, while Sen. John W. Warner, a senior and more moderate Republican, voted "yea." Allen, who is weighing a White House bid in 2008, said the bill fails to secure the nation's borders. The bill would provide a path for millions of illegal immigrants to become citizens. He blasted it as offering amnesty and a reward for illegal behavior.

22 Congressmen Hate Christmas This year's "War for Christmas" – keeping "Christ" in the holiday has apparently been won. And, like many "wars," there has even been a Congressional resolution in support of keeping Christmas alive and well. On December 15 the House of Representatives passed a resolution "protecting the symbols and traditions of Christmas" by an overwhelming 401-22 vote. Representative JoAnn Davis (R-VA), the resolution's sponsor, said the resolution was necessary to counter "political correctness run amok." "No one," she said, "should feel like they have done something wrong by wishing someone a Merry Christmas." Twenty-two Democrats played Scrooge...

Reprinted from NewsMax.com Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005 5:21 p.m. EST 22 Congressmen Hate Christmas This year's "War for Christmas" – keeping "Christ" in the holiday has apparently been won. And, like many "wars," there has even been a Congressional resolution in support of keeping Christmas alive and well. On December 15 the House of Representatives passed a resolution "protecting the symbols and traditions of Christmas" by an overwhelming 401-22 vote. Representative JoAnn Davis (R-VA), the resolution's sponsor, said the resolution was necessary to counter "political correctness run amok." "No one," she said, "should feel like they have done something wrong...

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 637 (Republicans in roman; Democrats in italic; Independents underlined) H RES 579 2/3 YEA-AND-NAY 15-Dec-2005 4:08 PM QUESTION: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended BILL TITLE: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that those who celebrate Christmas believe that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected

WASHINGTON -- Saying Christmas is under attack, Virginia Rep. Jo Ann Davis sought passage Wednesday night of a resolution expressing support for "the symbols and traditions of Christmas." The largely symbolic resolution, scheduled for a House vote as early as today, triggered a partisan culture clash in the House chamber. Conservative Republicans applauded the measure, but many Democrats criticized it as religiously insensitive. Davis, an outspoken Christian conservative from Gloucester, said she was spurred to act after seeing news reports of retailers telling their employees to wish customers a "happy holiday," instead of "Merry Christmas," and schools forbidding everything from...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Danny Diaz 202-863-8614Richmond, Virginia – RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman formally endorsed Jerry Kilgore for Governor of Virginia at a luncheon in Richmond this afternoon. Jerry Kilgore previously served as Virginia’s Attorney General after being elected in November 2001 with over 60% of the vote. Prior to his term as Attorney General, Kilgore served as Secretary of Public Safety for then-Governor, George Allen. “Jerry Kilgore is a proven leader with a clear and consistent record of serving the people of Virginia well,” Chairman Mehlman said. “There is no doubt in my mind that Jerry will be an...

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis has joined the effort to reverse the Pentagon's decision to end support for Boy Scout troops sponsored by military bases. Mrs. Davis, Virginia Republican, has asked Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to reconsider the concession to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which she described in a statement as an "extreme group bent on pursuing a political agenda." "I believe the Department of Defense has every right to work with the Boy Scouts," Mrs. Davis said, "and I believe this relationship is very important for both groups." An ACLU lawsuit has...