UPDATE: Andrew Loposser, the current chairman of the Arlington GOP, has been elected Chairman of the 8th District Republican Committee! Congratulations to Andrew, and we are excited to move forward under his leadership. Thank you again to Mark Kelly for his 6 ½ years of service as Chairman!
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The 8th District Republican Committee will convene Saturday, December 19th at 9:30 AM via Zoom to elect a new chairman and for any other purposes that may come before the committee.
The call is available here. If you would like to observe the meeting, please contact Vice Chairman Susan Valentine at susanvalentine1@verizon.net for the link and password.
The governing body of the Republican Party of Virginia, the State Central Committee, met last weekend to select a nomination method for statewide offices in next year’s elections and to elect new leadership.
The committee voted to hold a convention in 2021 to select the Republican nominees for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. The convention will most likely be held in the spring or early summer. Details will be ironed out and announced over the coming weeks and months.
Congratulations to our own chairman Mark Kelly, who was elected Eastern Regional Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia. Mark is one of four vice chairmen of the state party. Unfortunately, Mark’s new position means that he can no longer be the 8th District Chairman. We thank Mark for his dedicated service as Chairman since 2014. Details on the vacancy will be announced in the coming days.
“I’m a career servant of the Constitution, not a lifelong politician. I enlisted in the US Army as a private in 1992, and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2017. I was wounded in action twice and decorated for valor; after I lost my leg in battle, I was able to go on to earn both a Master’s and a PhD in public administration and serve under three different Presidential administrations. In short, I have always served America and the Constitution and will continue to do so in the future.
I’m deeply grateful to the tens of thousands of donors and volunteers who powered this campaign and the millions of Virginians who honored me with their vote last night. This was an entirely grassroots campaign, fueled by Virginians for Virginians, and we far out-performed the expectations of the media and the establishment, despite millions of dollars of negative attacks and being outspent 4-to-1. My opponent even claimed, absurdly, that a disabled combat veteran would be against protecting people with preexisting conditions.
From Lee County to Accomack County, from Danville to Chesterfield, from Winchester to Fairfax, it was an honor to meet Virginians and be a part of something bigger than myself. Together, we earned more votes than any Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Virginia—ever. Our campaign made over 2 million individual voter contacts, raised over 5 million dollars, and did over 250 in person events. We were relentless in fighting for our Conservative values. COVID has redefined campaigning and I’m extremely proud of the volunteers who sacrificed so much for our cause.
This race was about serving America, the Constitution and fighting for our shared values, as I’ve always done. I ran for my children and grandchildren, and because God has given us a great country for which I am willing to fight. During my 25 years of military service, I saw both the best and the worst of humanity, but my faith in our country never wavered. This campaign has reminded me America is always worth sacrificing for.
I will never stop fighting for our country and for the Constitution which sustains it, but this race is over. I concede and call on all of my supporters to recognize state and federal results with peace and unity. No matter the results of the Presidential election, in particular, it is paramount that every American realize that we still live in the greatest country on earth, and to work towards ‘liberty and justice for all.’
My family and my faith are the most important things in my life. My wife and I have been happily married for over 21 years, and our three great kids stood by my side this entire time. We are stronger and more resilient than ever, and look forward to a bright future, wherever the road may lead.”
If you have an absentee ballot which you have not returned yet, it must be POSTMARKED by today and delivered by Friday. But due to potential mail delays, you are strongly advised to submit your absentee ballot in person at your county/city clerk’s office.
If you have an absentee ballot which you have not returned yet, it must be POSTMARKED by November 3rd. Due to potential mail delays, you may want to submit your absentee ballot in person. Check with your county/city on where to submit your absentee ballot in person. (You can track your absentee ballot here.)
