UPDATE: You can see the video of today’s debate between the candidates for Chairman of the Republican National Committee here.

Happy New Year!  We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and is recharged and ready to go for 2011.  This being Virginia, 2011 is another election year, with all of the seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate up for election this year.  The GOP is looking to retake the State Senate and to expand its majority in the House of Delegates.  We’ll be counting on success in Northern Virginia to make that happen!

In addition, there will be races for the Arlington County Board and School Board, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and School Board, Commonwealth’s Attorneys, and other local offices.

We are actively recruiting candidates for these offices, but if you know someone we haven’t spoken to, please let us know.  Do you know of someone who is interested in running for office, or who you think would make a great candidate?  If so, we would love to speak with you.  Please contact us at va8gopchairman@hotmail.com.  (We’ll be confidential about it if you want, we promise!)

One important point to note regarding the State Senate and House of Delegate seats is that the redistricting process for Virginia’s legislative districts will likely not be completed until late spring, which means this year’s primaries (or other candidate selection processes) will not be held until late summer — August or early September, most likely.  Nevertheless, candidates are gearing up their campaigns and will need your support, so please be sure to help candidates when you can!

Again, if you are interested in running for office in Northern Virginia or know someone who is, please contact 8th District GOP Chairman Mike Ginsberg at va8gopchairman@hotmail.com.

Let’s make 2011 as successful as 2010 for the Virginia GOP!

Also, be sure to check out our Upcoming Events page for a list of GOP events, including campaign kickoffs, throughout the 8th District and Northern Virginia. The page is updated every Monday so be sure to check regularly.

Next, the Republican Party of Virginia is accepting applications for its 2011 Jennifer Byler Institute, a political leadership program for women. The program runs one weekend per month for eight months and includes meetings in Washington featuring Virginia elected officials and national leaders. JBI speakers are the best political minds in Virginia and beyond, including Frank Atkinson, Lee Edwards, Betsy Beamer, Bob Gibson and Michelle Easton as well as virtually all of Virginia’s current and past Republican statewide elected officials. Participants in the program are selected through a competitive process that begins in November and includes extensive applications and individual interviews. Applications for the 2011 JBI program are due this Friday, January 7th. More information and applications are available at the RPV’s JBI page.

Finally, all five candidates for Chairman of the Republican National Committee will meet today, January 3rd, for a debate at the National Press Club. The debate is sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform, the Daily Caller, and the Susan B. Anthony List. It will be held from 1:00-2:30 pm and will be broadcast live on TV on C-SPAN and will also be streamed live online on RNCDebate.com and the Daily Caller.