November 19, 2013

Dear 8th District Republicans,

Since 2008, it has been a honor and privilege for me to serve as the Chairman of the 8th District Republican Committee.  I simply have loved doing the job.  Because of changing personal circumstances, I am writing to you today to let you know that I will not be running for re-election in 2014.  As you may know, I got married last year, and my wife and I have bought a new home in Fairfax County, in the 11th District, and will be moving there in the near future.

Although my term ends in May 2014, I want to take the opportunity now to thank all of the many 8th District Republicans I have worked with over the last five years. I was extremely honored to be elected as 8th District Chairman in 2008, and it has been a wonderful experience and a joy to serve in the position.  We have a lot to be proud of over the last several years — the tremendous election victories in 2009, hard work in the presidential elections, the success of the Retire Jim Moran program, opening our own Victory Office in 2012 for the Romney, Allen, and Murray campaigns, and enhanced District-wide communications with our 8th District Newsletter.  Our party has grown tremendously in the number of volunteers, activists, and committee members over the last five years.

I’ve had the good fortune to work with great Unit Chairs throughout my tenure as District Chairman.  I want to thank all of the Unit Chairs I have had a chance to serve with: Anthony Bedell and Jay McConville in Fairfax; Jonathan Krive, Bruce Swenson, and Ken Feltman in Falls Church; Chris Marston and Tom Fulton in Alexandria; and Mark Kelly and Charles Hokanson in Arlington.

A special thank you to Tommy Valentine, a.k.a. “Retire Jim Moran.”  As the lead blogger for our Retire Jim Moran website, Tommy has tirelessly charted Jim Moran’s foibles — from his ridiculous public comments to his damaging votes in Congress.

Thanks also to our great auxiliaries, the Young Republicans and the Women’s Clubs.  The 8th District has some of the largest and most active auxiliary clubs, and are leaders within the Young Republican Federation of Virginia and Virginia Federation of Republican Women.  Thank you to all of the officers of the 8th District Committee I have worked with, including our State Central members, Treasurers, and Vice-Chairs, who have helped conceive and develop some of the committee’s most creative projects.

Finally, I want to thank you, the volunteers and activists of the 8th District.  Thank you for your dedication, your energy, your enthusiasm, and your commitment to the conservative principles we all support so strongly.  You make our victories possible, and you keep the flame of conservative Republican values going even in the face of electoral setbacks.  The best part of being the 8th District Chairman has been the opportunity to get to know so many of you and to work with you to build the party and win elections.

I’ve loved serving as District Chairman, and I will miss it tremendously.  However, I know that we have built a great foundation for the future and the Republicans of the 8th District will continue to do everything possible to get our great candidates elected.  Thank you all again for the opportunity to help lead those efforts over the last several years.  I look forward to continuing to do everything I can to support the Republican Party.

Best regards,

Mike Ginsberg
8th District Chairman

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Early this morning, state senator and 2009 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Creigh Deeds was was stabbed by his son, who then shot and killed himself. Sen. Deeds is reportedly in critical condition at the University of Virginia Medical Center. We pray earnestly for Sen. Deeds’s full and speedy recovery and for his family, and we ask all Virginians to unite in prayer.