Only 17% of Incumbent Republican Delegates Being Challenged by Dems; Senate Even Worse

Very discouraging (0.00 / 0)

Although it's funny (well not really) that there are many Republicans who will get a free pass and in turn be able to divert their money to other Republican incumbents or even challengers in such an important year and we can't even field any candidates?  Is the Democratic field of potential candidates that limited?  Seriously....

As you noted yesterday there is now a primary challenge to Tim Kaine from someone who we really know nothing about to include any experience or involvement in Democratic politics in Virginia....Hell, from what I've read I've been more involved in the Virginia Democratic Party than she has as a volunteer and through my union.  But we have over 80% of the incumbent Republican House being given a free pass?  

In my opinion, for what it's worth, getting candidates into races helps get volunteers and voters to the polls which in turn can help other races in their jurisdictions i.e. Fairfax where the Board of Supervisors and Sheriff will be on the ballot.  All very important races in their own right and level.  And again, it keeps those incumbents from funneling their money to other races since they don't need to spend it on themselves.  

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by: DanielK @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 00:21:25 AM UTC

So who is in charge of the Dem caucus now (0.00 / 0)

Who replaced Matt Mansell? This is a pretty bad record to have to defend

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by: truthteller @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 01:29:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Maginot Line, bunker mentality (0.00 / 0)

is the guiding principle of the DPVA, or so it seems. The rationale appears to be that we must husband scarce resources for clearly winnable slots just to defend what we have, or we will lose everything if we squander our resources widely.

Besides, why would anybody undertake to run against a very well-funded, sure-to-be-vicious Republican when they get no support, training, guidance, or help from the DPVA? Those who do screw up their courage to make a run are on their own, learning how to campaign, how to raise money, how to make a compellig stump speech, how to GOTV---- it's a sort of desperate on-the-job-training. No wonder, after floundering around and losing, they refuse to come back again and make another run; their experience discourages any one else from running in the future. It's a vicious circle, and it's getting worse thanks to the almost unlimited corporate funds which can be (and are being) poured anonymously into campaigns on every level to help Republican/corporotist candidates. We are seeing Political Darwinsim in action.

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by: Teddy Goodson @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 01:04:51 AM UTC

I am told the Senate numbers will get somewhat better (4.00 / 1)

There will be a Democratic challenger to Carrico in the Wampler seat. Secondly the VB Dems are reportedly planning to run a challenger to McWaters. Thirdly, with Brandon Bell taking on Ralph Smith as an independent, we can rest assured that  another incumbent Republican will be challenged vigorously (and may lose). Should we have a couple more seats filled with candidates? Absolutely, but this this will help significantly.

Far more worried about the House of Delegates. I am told we'll likely have a a good candidate for the Oder seat and a candidate for the seat Nutter vacated, which is good. But DPVA & FCDC have NO EXCUSE for not running strong Dems against Tom Rust and Tag Greason -- particularly with Rust's district's 55% Democratic and the overlap with key Dem Senate candidates this is unacceptable! Also believe we should be developing more of a bench in Prince William and running challengers to Jackson Miller and Rich Anderson.  And even though the Janis seat is unlikely to go blue, we should have a candidate there just in case

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by: truthteller @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 01:25:26 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's correct. (0.00 / 0)

John Lamie made it official in the 40th, and Bill Fleming vs. McWaters in the 8th.

By the way, I take some issue with the percentages not accounting for open seats. We have a great YD candidate in Esteban Garces, running for Bud Phillips open seat in the 2nd. Dave Butler running for the 10th District seat. We have Don Langrehr running against Joseph Yost in the 12th.

Finally, we have Travis Short running against Steve Newman in the 23rd, and his nominating caucus is this week. Not accounted for on the list as well.

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by: Isaac Sarver @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 03:37:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes, open seats help matters. (0.00 / 0)

I'll add that in an update.

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by: lowkell @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 09:54:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

How much to put a candidate on the ballot? (0.00 / 0)

The Virginia Beach Democratic Party is having a caucus which will probably end up nominating Bill Fleming again, and their announcement says that candidates have to pay $4,000 to file for the nomination. That seems like a ludicrous amount of money just to put someone on the ballot in a heavily-Republican district. Is this typical elsewhere in Virginia? That may be one reason why nobody's stepping up to run, if the price of admission alone is that high.

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by: Johnny Longtorso @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 02:14:11 AM UTC

The decision to run is difficult and late (0.00 / 0)

We have many Democrats who are qualified in every way for these races, but the decision to run is difficult. The dollar cost of a campaign is daunting, particularly with the expectation that Citizens United allows anonymous out-of-state donors to fund elections, and these will fund the GOP/TP candidates. In addition to being expensive, a campaign is hard on families. Recruitment of potential candidates should be always on-going, and should consider spouses and families and include them all along the way. This year we seemed not to notice that an election was coming until the first of August, so our candidates will be playing catch-up to campaigns by the GOP/TP that have been already months in planning and in our neck of the woods already have yard signs on display.

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by: Sarah Williams @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 02:32:08 AM UTC

Well that's kind of the point (0.00 / 0)

"playing catch-up to campaigns by the GOP/TP that have been already months in planning . . ."

How is it that the RPVA can organize campaigns years and months in advance while the DPVA doesn't start organizing until August, just three months before an election?

If the leadership of the DPVA isn't responsible for this failure, then who is responsible?

The Richmonder

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by: The Richmonder @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 03:18:35 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

And where is the DPVA in all of this?? (0.00 / 0)

We all know the answer to that question.  The DPVA and their chairman are absent -- taking care of their day jobs and sipping white wine in Arlington.

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by: CleetusMaggard @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 03:57:46 AM UTC

Actually, Brian Moran lives in Alexandria (0.00 / 0)

not Arlington. :)

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by: lowkell @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 09:55:14 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

They're not absent from fundraising. (0.00 / 0)

Perfect timing - just got a request from the DPVA for funds "to help the DPVA elect leaders" who will hold Bob McDonnell accountable.  I lent them a piece of my mind.

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by: Clemgo3165 @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 17:17:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Falls Directly On (0.00 / 0)

the state party chair. No one else. No party chair - no recruiting and no success.

Mere parsimony is not economy. Expense, and great expense, may be an essential part in true economy.
Edmund Burke

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by: blue bronc @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 10:33:11 AM UTC

Putney Challenger (0.00 / 0)

Lacey Putney, a Republican pretending to be an independent, is being challenged by Lewis Medlin, who owns a business in Bedford County.

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by: Elaine in Roanoke @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 12:56:33 PM UTC

DPVA reminds me of a C student... (0.00 / 0)

...fighting to maintain that status.

Isn't there anyone in the state with the vision to inspire the party and the Commonwealth to unite our base and expand beyond it?  Give candidates a reason to run and people a reason to support them.  We're pretty far from that point right now.  

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by: kindler @ Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 22:20:16 PM UTC