Virginia's Public Square
Virginia's Public Square
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“To give the next Delegate from the 24th District as much time as possible to prepare for the upcoming session, and to ensure that the people of the 24th District are represented for the entire 2019 session, I am calling a special election for December 18th,” Speaker Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) said.
If the President wants an energetic attorney general, Gowdy, the man with a never-ending hairstyle, would be a fantastic choice for the job for an administration that seeks to promote “law and order.”
Ideas, not identity politics or personality contests, are the glue that holds Republicans together, writes Lingamfelter.
Considering Maxine Waters (CA-43), who constantly spars with Trump, is set to take over the House Financial Services Committee, subpoenas could be coming day one of next year’s congressional session.
The Virginia Chamber of Commerce has released their 2018 Legislative Report Card honoring 19 Republicans with an “A+,” with the average grade among those within the Republican Party being an “A” and 10 members receiving a perfect score of 100. In comparison, House Democrats received an average grade of “D” with seven members receiving a failing grade of “F.”
During his hour and a half press conference this morning at the White House, President Trump was asked by reporters if there would be any personnel changes coming soon within his administration. He responded by explaining that personnel changes after a midterm election are quite common, but gave no answer as to who would be leaving.
Although returns on the West Coast are still being counted and a few provisional ballot counts are occurring in other areas, on Election Night, the Democratic Party flipped at least 29 House seats, taking back control of the lower chamber in the U.S. Congress. Republicans were able to flip three House seats, one in Pennsylvania and two in Minnesota.
On average, the party in power loses approximately 30 seats in House in the midterm elections, while only losing a few in the Senate. Last night, while Republicans lost a historical average amount in the House, the GOP did gain three seats in the Senate after Republican candidates beat out Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and Joe Donnelly (D-IN). However, Dean Heller (R-NV) lost by five points in a state which Hillary Clinton carried in the 2016 presidential election, leaving a Republican majority in the upper chamber.
In the gubernatorial elections, while Ron DeSantis of Florida and Brian Kemp of Georgia held out against strong Democratic candidates, the liberal party flipped the governorships of seven states – Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wisconsin.
President Donald Trump held a press conference Wednesday morning to give his remarks on what was said by many to be a referendum on his first term in office. Trump said the midterm elections “deified history,” insofar as gains for his party in the Senate were concerned. Nevertheless, he seemed to downplay losses in the House.
Furthermore, he also spoke of how the losing GOP candidates refused to “embrace” his presidency and his agenda, adding that his message produced “very close to a complete victory in last night’s midterm elections.”
When asked about the future leadership in the House of Representatives, and whether Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) would assume the role of Speaker of the House following big gains by Democrats, President Trump said quite categorically, “Nancy Pelosi deserves the speakership.” He also reiterated that, if necessary, he would “deliver the votes.”
Interestingly, when asked about political gridlock in his next two years in office, Trump responded that there would be “less” gridlock with Democrats taking back the House.
“I really believe that we have a chance to get along very well with the Democrats, and if that’s the case, we can do a tremendous amount of legislation,” President Trump said.
As one-party rule in Washington is over for at least the next two years, Republicans must come to terms with big political shifts in growing suburban areas in states that traditionally vote for GOP candidates. At the press conference, President Trump refused to divulge his thoughts on what that might mean for him going into the 2020 presidential election.
Yes, you heard that correct. The wealthiest U.S. senator in America, who is worth nearly a quarter of a billion dollars, is explaining to people that capitalism, what he made his fortune on, does not work.
Quite ironic, right?
Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) made his money as a cell phone franchise broker in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was also founder and managing director of the venture capital firm Columbia Capital, which was an early investor in a myriad of technology companies, including Nextel. Then, he co-founded Capital Cellular Corporation, building his net worth even further. In 2014, some sources say he had an estimated wealth of around $257 million, making him the wealthiest member of the Senate.
Sounds like a great career for someone who took principles of capitalism and made a fortune. Great for him, however, running on a resistance narrative, he is now criticizing the system that help him become a very rich man.
Nevertheless, while campaigning for Democratic candidate Leslie Cockburn in Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District in the run-up to Election Day, Warner told a crowd of supporters that free enterprise in this day in age just isn’t working.
In the video published by RNC Research, Warner remarked, “I was blessed to do really well in business.” He added, “I believe in the free enterprise but I don’t believe modern American capitalism is working for enough people.”
“I think we ought to realize that the economy that we grew up in isn’t going to take place in 2017, 2018, 2019,” Warner said.
As everyone let’s that sink in, remember that this former governor of Virginia and current U.S. senator is up for re-election in 2020.
As someone who is adamantly against conservative principles regarding firearms and supports banning assault-style weapons, is planning to reconfigure the balance of power governing the Internet and online innovation, was fervently against the confirmation of Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, among other things, denouncing capitalism only adds to the list of why Warner should and could be beaten by a Republican in 2020.
For the race in the 8th House District, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, McNamara won with 61.74 percent of the vote – 21,251 votes cast – and Democratic candidate Turner garnered just 38.16 percent – 13,134 votes cast.
Virginia is not a deep blue state; we are a red state that just can’t get its act together… and if we intend to preserve the things that make us Virginians, we’d better get our act together ASAP.