Free Republic

Del. Joseph D. Morrissey tonight won a special election to keep his seat in the 74th House of Delegates district, making him the first jailed lawmaker in modern Virginia history to win reelection. On the eve of the start of the 2015 General Assembly session, the Democrat-turned-independent defeated Democrat Kevin Sullivan and Republican Matt Walton in spite of Morrissey's ongoing legal woes and controversy over his conviction for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

This is the stuff of which conspiracy theories are made. This video posted by an anonymous Virginia voter suggests that he had quite a difficult time supporting the candidate of his choice: CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO Now, clearly this voting machine has nothing personal against Republicans, per se. The video shows this eager Virginia voter casting his ballot in favor of GOP Senate candidate Ed Gillespie. It does, however, seem to have a problem with 2nd Congressional District candidate Suzanne Patrick. This might be easily dismissed if it was an isolated incident, but it is not. According...

While polling data makes it appear pro-life Republicans will take over the Senate from pro-abortion Democrats, whether votes cast on Election Day line up with those polls in another question. And one of the worries some pro-life voters have is whether illegal voting will prevent pro-life candidates from winning. virginiaIn Virginia, early reports are showing that some voters may be having problems getting votes registered properly for the candidates they support. One news report indicates voters have experienced voting errors — including voters who say votes for a Republican candidate have been registered for his Democrat opponent. According to a...

Even in a national election shadowed by geopolitical instability and a heated debate over immigration, it’s a rare campaign that has voters hearing about the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and maritime disputes between Japan and the Republic of Korea. But in these suburbs a few miles from the nation’s capital, these are only a few of the unconventional issues rearing up in the battle for control of Congress. Candidates up and down the ballot have hurled themselves into winning over the area’s swiftly growing Asian-American population, striving to sell themselves as champions of small business and public education, and...

Ed Gillespie continues to close the gap on Mark Warner in the Virginia Senate race, causing Real Clear Politics to move the race from “Likely Dem” to “Leans Dem.” Virginia is currently the only Senate race in that category, which suggests it’s the GOP’s best chance to stage a substantial upset on election night.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) said he was "disappointed" after former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his primary and resigned because it was a loss for the state's congressional leadership. "As governor, I had the Majority Leader and, potentially, the Speaker of the United States of America as a member of my congressional delegation," McAuliffe told radio host John Catsimatidis in an interview to air Sunday on New York's 970 AM. "Personally, I was disappointed that Eric lost." SNIP When Catsimatidis told the governor that some people blamed him for Cantor's stunning defeat, McAuliffe said he's not at fault.

Sen. Mark R. Warner (D) is bringing in some heavy artillery in favor of his campaign. Former U.S. senator John W. Warner, a five-term Republican who retired in 2009, is appearing on television in support of his Democratic successor. “In Congress to get things done you gotta have the guts to cross the aisle and reach bipartisan agreement,” John Warner tells the camera. “That’s what I did, that’s what Mark Warner does today. While we come from different parties, we both believe in putting Virginia first. I know Mark Warner. He’s decisive, experienced and has courage.” The end of the...

John Warner, the retired Republican senator, has cut a strong testimonial commercial endorsing Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner for reelection, becoming the latest former member of the chamber to make an appearance in this year’s elections. The younger Warner challenged the elder Warner, no relation, back in 1996. But they became closer over the years and developed a good working relationship when Mark Warner became governor in 2002. Mark Warner picked up his seat six years ago upon John Warner’s retirement. This is the first time John Warner, now 87, has either endorsed a Democrat for elected office in Virginia...

Sen. Mark Warner (D., Va.) floundered during a debate Monday night when asked about allegations that he offered a judgeship position to the daughter of Virginia State Senator Phillip Puckett to convince Puckett to remain in the Senate. “I’ve been friends with Phillip Puckett and his family for 20 years,” Warner said. “And when I reached out to his son before I talked to Phillip to explore possible options going forward, I didn’t offer anyone any job, nor would I offer any job. And that is the fact.”

There are signs that the U.S. Senate race in Virginia, previously considered a long-shot for Republicans and a safe seat for Democrats, could get interesting in the final weeks of the campaign. The incumbent, Democrat Mark Warner, has had a large lead in the polls over his Republican opponent Ed Gilespie since the beginning of the race. But the lead has shrunk in recent weeks from about 20 points to about 10, and the Gillespie campaign is now up with TV ads in the swing Northern Virginia market outside Washington, which Warner had previously had to himself. A popular former...

RICHMOND — The son of a former Virginia state senator has told federal investigators that U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner discussed the possibility of several jobs, including a federal judgeship, for the senator’s daughter in an effort to dissuade him from quitting the evenly divided state Senate.

Well, you won’t be shocked, probably. And I am sorry for that. It would be nice if there was still some innocence left in the world. But let’s not get maudlin. Background: Barbara Comstock, Republican candidate for VA-10, is of the (accurate) opinion that her opponent John Foust is a male chauvinist pig:

Where in the World is Russ Potts? By Chris Freund September 19, 2014 The new Republican majority in the state Senate quickly went to work reorganizing committees while in town for the special session on the budget and Medicaid. Of course, those who’ve been paying attention may remember the battles over committee makeup when Republicans took over the Senate with then LG Bill Bolling casting the tie breaking vote, only to see a reversal of fortune in January when Democrats took control with LG Ralph Northam. Bad blood has been flowing between the two caucuses ever since, so the changes...

“Staggering Numbers” Of Virginians Will Lose Plans And Pay More Due To ObamaCare (September 11, 2014)

MEDIA CONTACT: Josh Baumgartner 703.766.4467 info@fairfaxgop.org The fight for the integrity of the election process and against election fraud took a big step forward Wednesday in Fairfax. The General Registrar for Fairfax County, Ms. Cameron Quinn, was presented with a challenge to the registration of over 14,500 voters in Fairfax County. The challenge was based upon information showing that those voters are registered to vote in both Fairfax County and Maryland. The challenge was made by Mr. Reagan George, President of the Virginia Voters Alliance (VVA), on behalf of himself and three other residents of Fairfax County, under the provisions...

Virginia GOP retains/gains majority until Terry McAuliffe is no longer relevant

Republicans appear likely to retain control of the state Senate with the apparent victory of GOP candidate Ben Chafin in a special election for the 38th district.

Republican Senate candidate Ed Gillespie said he thinks there is enough evidence to support climate change after being pressed on the issue during a debate with incumbent Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.). "I believe there is ample scientific evidence that contributes to climate change but I'm not entirely dismissive of those who have a different point of view," Gillespie said. Gillespie added, "Norfolk is dealing with rising sea levels but people can debate what contributes to that or not." Still, Gillespie said he thinks the administration's new carbon pollution rules "go to far."

With Barack Obama's job approval well below water these days, perhaps it's no surprise that Democratic candidates for Congress this year aren't jumping at the chance to have the president come campaign for them. Dave Weigel at Slate points out how remarkable it was last week when Democratic senator Mark Udall of Colorado declined to appear with Obama, despite the fact that the president won Colorado twice. "Members of the White House political team will grit their teeth and ask low-level campaign staffers if, you know, it would be OK for the commander-in-chief to show up," Weigel writes. "They will...

Breaking: Partisan gridlock blocks Hobby Lobby bill. Friend, This afternoon, Republicans in the Senate filibustered the bill that would undo the impacts of the recent Hobby Lobby decision. This bill would have ensured that employers can't stand between a woman and her doctor and protected the rights of all employees to have access to basic health care. This partisan gridlock is outrageous. We deserve to have a real debate on this bill, and it deserves to have a vote. Nearly 20,000 supporters like you have added their name demanding action. The momentum is with us to fix this. Today’s filibuster...