Virginia's 8th District Republican Committee

Friends,

Thank you for your participation in last week’s 8th District Republican Committee Convention. I would also like to extend a special thanks to Stori Zimmerman and the Colonial Mount Vernon Republican Women for providing food during the event, benefiting the club’s Liberty Tree Scholarship program.

Please join me in congratulating our newly elected members of the Republican Party of Virginia’s State Central Committee (SCC) from the 8th District: Nancy Almasi, Diane Cullo, and Valerie Wohlleben. They will continue to lead the 8th District with excellence. I would also like to express our gratitude to Jonathan Hauenschild for his significant contributions and leadership as he departs from the SCC.

All of our SCC candidates conducted their campaigns with remarkable integrity and excellence. Their example has been recognized and celebrated by Republican leaders across the Commonwealth, demonstrating the impact of principled leadership. Their actions remind us of what we can accomplish when we stay true to our values and work together to advance our party.

I am also excited to introduce our 8th District leadership team. With their vast experience, these tremendous leaders will be instrumental in supporting our candidates in upcoming elections.

Please reach out to us if you wish to become more involved or have suggestions to share. Your participation in your local unit committee is crucial to our success.

Thank you for your continued support.

Warm regards,
Luisa Guerra-Young
Chairman, 8th District Republican Committee

State Central Committee Update

Your three representatives from the SCC, along with the Chairman of the 8th District, have produced the following summary of Saturday’s meeting:

The State Central Committee meeting commenced with customary ceremonies, including a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the recitation of the Republican Creed. This was followed by reports from the Auxiliary groups.

Chairman’s Report: The Chairman highlighted the addition of Andrea Bell as the RPV State Convention Manager and Christine Stephenson as the RPV Finance Director.

To optimize preparations for the 2024 elections, an administrative decision was made to move the SCC meeting from September 14 to August 24, preceding the Labor Day weekend. This meeting will be held in Richmond, with the exact location yet to be determined.

Reflecting on the 2023 elections, the Chairman noted the Democratic majority’s lack of a mandate and their struggle with ideological extremes. These observations underscored opportunities for the Republican party in upcoming elections, emphasizing the critical need for party-wide revitalization and unity.

New Business & Committee Reports: A pivotal moment unfolded as the SCC deliberated on a resolution concerning Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). Elizabeth Lankford, Chair of the RPV Resolutions Committee, presented a revised resolution aimed at formalizing the party’s stance against RCV, mirroring a national resolution endorsed by the Republican National Committee in 2023. An amendment to substitute the original resolution was proposed, extending the opposition to include state and local elections. It passed with overwhelming support by a decisive voice vote.

RPV Advance: The committee agreed to move this annual gathering back to December as holding it in the Spring placed an unnecessary burden on staff. The RPV staff is exploring cost-effective options and venues, with a promising new location found at a Kimpton property in Charlottesville.

The State Central Committee meeting concluded with an executive session to review RPV financials and a benediction.

New 8th District Leadership Team

Alexandria Republican City Committee Chairman Chris Howell
Chris Howell has spent his career in national security and is currently Amazon Web Services’ lead in U.S. national security policy. Before Amazon, he was a staffer on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) for four years. Before that in 2017, Chris was detailed to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from the CIA and served as one of Chairman Corker’s Middle East experts. Chris was a CIA analyst for 12 years, covering topics related to Iraq, Syria, and terrorism in the Middle East as well as insurgent leadership in Afghanistan. Chris lives in Alexandria with his wife Margaret and his hound dogs Bluebell and Ellie.

Arlington County Republican Committee Chairman Matthew Hurtt
Matthew Hurtt is the Director of Professional Services at the Leadership Institute. He is also an internationally-recognized fundraiser, organizer, writer, and public speaker. Previously, he spent nearly six years at Americans for Prosperity & AFP Foundation, organizing activists nationwide. Since joining the Leadership Institute in 2009, Hurtt has trained thousands of activists across the US, Canada, and Europe. Hurtt’s work has been featured in numerous publications and media outlets. He resides in Arlington, Virginia.

Fairfax County Republican Committee Chairman Katie Gorka
Katie Gorka served as Director for Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation. Prior to that she worked as a presidential appointee in the Office of Policy at the Department of Homeland Security, where she focused on strategies for prevention of terrorism and targeted violence. She has been deeply involved in the Fairfax County Republican Party, actively supporting Republican candidates and leading Get Out the Vote efforts. She is a prolific writer and recently co-authored NextGen Marxism: What It Is and How To Combat It.

Falls Church Republican Committee Chairman Kevin O’Keefe
With nearly a decade of congressional experience, Kevin O’Keefe brings expertise in defense, health, and education policy, advancing constituent interests and contributing to meaningful legislative outcomes. In the U.S. House of Representatives, he has served in key roles including Deputy Chief of Staff to Rep. Laurel Lee (FL-15) and Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Rep. Fred Keller (PA-12). Currently, he serves on the Professional Staff of the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Kevin has volunteered on numerous Republican campaigns and is a graduate of the Leadership Institute’s Campaign Leadership College.

State Central Representative Nancy Almasi
Nancy Almasi, a Fairfax County resident, has been deeply engaged in Virginia politics since volunteering for Ken Cuccinelli’s 2009 Attorney General campaign. She has served as Club President of the Colonial Mount Vernon Republican Women, precinct captain, poll watcher, and Election Officer. Currently, Nancy holds the position of Vice Chair of Programs for the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) and was recently re-elected as a representative for the 8th district on the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. She contributes articles to the NFRW’s Capital Connection and the Jefferson Journal. Nancy lives in Alexandria with her husband David and their dogs, Gracie and Calvin.

State Central Representative Diane Cullo
Diane Cullo is a seasoned Republican leader with over 35 years of service at every level of the GOP, from grassroots to national campaigns. She has held significant roles such as Fairfax GOP Executive Director, Fairfax Co-Chair of Women for Glenn Youngkin for Governor, and Senior Advisor to Winsome Sears for Lieutenant Governor. Diane has held appointments under Presidents George W. Bush and Donald J. Trump. As a member of the Republican Party of Virginia’s State Central Committee, Diane will continue her passionate advocacy for conservative values and effective party leadership.

State Central Representative Valerie Wohlleben
Valerie Wohlleben is a dedicated Republican activist with a history of grassroots involvement since 2004. She has held significant roles including Northern Virginia Field Director for Daniel Gade’s U.S. Senate campaign, Groundgame Director for Karina Lipsman for Congress, and former Chair of Mount Vernon Magisterial District. A long-standing member and leader in the Colonial Mount Vernon Republican Women, Valerie is dedicated to revitalizing Republican victories in the state, leveraging her comprehensive grassroots experience and commitment to conservative values.

Elector Michael Maibach
Michael Maibach is a seasoned professional in global business diplomacy and civic engagement. From 2003-2012 he was the President of the European-American Business Council, after serving for 18 years as the Vice President of Global Government Affairs at the Intel Corporation. Today, he is a Trustee and Managing Director of the James Wilson Institute, and a Distinguished Fellow on American Federalism at Save Our States. Michael has earned MA degrees from Northern Illinois, Georgetown, Ashland, and the Institute of World Politics. He speaks with students and civic groups across the Nation about the brilliant and sustained design of the Founders’ Constitution and its excellent Electoral College system.

Friends,

We are excited to share some key updates from the 8th Congressional District. First, a look at the recent filings for positions on the 8th District Committee:

Uncontested Races

Chairman: Luisa Guerra-Young is the only candidate for the chair position. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Luisa and express our gratitude for her commitment to serve in this critical role. I am confident in her abilities to lead the 8th District with distinction.

Contested Races

For State Central Committee (3 to be elected):
» Nancy Almasi
» Diane Cullo
» Jonathon Hauenschild
» Valerie Wohlleben

For Elector (1 to be nominated):
» Michael Maibach
» Bryan Witt

Filing/Registration

Secondly, we have information for those interested in filing as a delegate to the 8th District Convention and the Republican Party of Virginia State Convention:

Alexandria City Residents:
Fill out this form by (deadline TBA)

Arlington County Residents:
Fill out this form by March 25, 2024

Fairfax County Residents:
Fill out this form by 12:00 noon on Saturday, March 16th

Falls Church City Residents:
Details coming soon

What We Won’t Be Voting On

We will not be voting on the nominee for U.S. Congress this year at the 8th District Convention.

Legislation that was signed into law in 2021 effectively prohibits District Committees from choosing a convention as the method of nomination.

The determination of the RPV legal counsel is, “A convention, as currently defined under the Plan, would have the practical effect of excluding otherwise eligible voters who cannot attend the convention. As such, §24.2-509 prevents any committee from selecting it as a method of nomination.”

If you have additional questions about this, I kindly ask that you reference the ruling that can be found here.

What We Are Voting On

At the convention this year, we will be voting on the following positions:

• Chairman of the 8th District Republican Committee
• 3 Members of the Republican Party of Virginia State Central Committee to represent the 8th District
• 1 Elector to cast the 8th District’s vote in the Electoral College if the Republican presidential nominee wins Virginia

How do we elect delegates to the national convention?

The process for electing delegates to the national convention involves candidate campaigns submitting lists of potential delegates.

These submissions occur when the campaigns file for ballot access, which, in this case, was in December. Following the March 5 primary, the delegates will be selected based on the primary results.

Each campaign’s list is used to allocate delegates and alternates proportionally based on the primary vote. For example, with 46 delegates and 46 alternates, if Candidate A is entitled to 23 delegates based on the primary results, the first 23 names from Candidate A’s list will be selected as delegates, and the next 23 names will be alternates.

The 8th District Republican Committee is excited to announce that the 2024 8th District Republican Convention will be held as follows:

Thursday, April 11, 2024
6:00-8:00 PM
Alexandria Knights of Columbus Hall
8592 Richmond Highway
Alexandria, VA 22309

At the convention, we will vote for:

• Chairman of the 8th District Republican Committee
• 3 Members of the Republican Party of Virginia State Central Committee to represent the 8th District
• 1 Elector to cast the 8th District’s vote in the Electoral College if the Republican presidential nominee wins Virginia

Those who wish to run for one of these positions must file to run by February 17th at 5:00 PM. Details are listed in the official call.

To vote at the convention, you must file (register) through your county or city Republican committee (Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, or Falls Church City). The filing fee will be $35/person. Details on how to file will be published here as they are finalized by the county/city committees.

Please check back frequently for updates and further information. If you have any questions, please contact Andrew Loposser at chairman@vagop8cd.org.

>> OFFICIAL CALL <<

First, thank you to all the candidates that ran this year.

Running for office is no small task.

It’s an uphill battle running as a Republican in Northern Virginia. As candidates, you know the odds. And you put your jobs and your families on hold to earn 10%, 15%, maybe even 20% of the vote.

Your efforts brought a much-needed alternative to one-party rule in Northern Virginia and allowed us to showcase the values that make the Republican party great.

To all those who ran, we say THANK YOU!

Election Results

The Democrats retained their majority in the Senate, 21 – 19, and re-gained control of the House of Delegates, 51 – 49.

While it’s not what we hoped for, I am very hopeful for our party’s future based on last Tuesday’s election results and the success of the Secure Your Vote Virginia initiative spearheaded by The Spirit of Virginia.

If you’re interested in the report from the Spirit of Virginia Chairman, Dave Rexrode, I encourage you to check out his analysis of the races here on X (formerly Twitter).

If you’re not an X user, I’ll recap it here for you.

1. House Districts Performance: In the 10 targeted House districts where SYVV was implemented, there was a significant improvement in election performance. The program managed to reduce the vote deficit the candidates faced on Election Day by an average of 1,261 votes compared to 2022, which is a 49.5% reduction.
2. Senate Districts Performance: Similarly, in the 7 targeted Senate districts where SYVV was run, there was noticeable improvement. The average reduction in the vote deficit compared to 2022 was 3,370 votes, amounting to a 51.7% decrease.
3. Specific District Outcomes – Two Examples:
   1. HD57: David Owen won by a margin of 715 votes. A crucial factor in this victory was the turnaround in early voting performance. In 2022, the early vote was lost by 443 ballots, but in 2023, it was won by 613 votes, a net change that significantly contributed to the win.
   2. HD82: Kim Taylor was re-elected by a narrow margin of 75 votes. The SYVV program played a key role here by cutting the Election Day deficit by 605 votes, which was more than eight times her margin of victory.
4. Overall Electoral Impact:
   1. On the House side, the scenario was slightly tighter, but in 8 out of the 10 races, GOP candidates outperformed their DEM opponents in turnout percentage.
   2. In the targeted Senate races, every Republican candidate achieved a higher percentage of the 2022 GOP vote than their opponents did of the 2022 DEM vote, averaging a 6.4% lead.
   3. In the targeted Senate races, every Republican candidate achieved a higher percentage of the 2022 GOP vote than their opponents did of the 2022 DEM vote, averaging a 6.4% lead.
   4. On the House side, the scenario was slightly tighter, but in 8 out of the 10 races, GOP candidates outperformed their DEM opponents in turnout percentage.
5. Strategic Approach and Results:
   1. The program prioritized early and persistent voter engagement. As Glenn Youngkin emphasized, it was crucial to be active from the beginning to the end of the election process.
   2. Data was utilized to identify voters susceptible to voting early, who were then contacted frequently.
   3. In one notable district won by 75 votes, SYVV almost doubled the number of AB By-Mail GOP votes, increased GOP Early In-Person votes by 33%, and reduced the Election Day deficit by nearly 25%.
6. Further Analysis and Future Implications:
   1. Detailed analysis is pending as more data becomes available. However, it’s evident that Republicans can succeed in mail and early in-person voting with proper effort.
   2. SYVV was instrumental in engaging low propensity Republicans, converting thousands into permanent AB voters, and creating a successful strategy for future GOP campaigns.
   3. With the 2024 elections in sight, the program’s impact in battleground congressional districts is notable. There are now thousands of Republicans prepared to vote ABEV (Absentee By-Mail and Early Voting), providing a substantial advantage for future GOP candidates.
   4. Glenn Youngkin has emphasized that the strategies used in SYVV are not proprietary and encourages all GOP candidates to learn from these tactics for future successes.

Andrew Loposser
Chairman, 8th District Republican Committee