83rd District Update
As many of you probably saw, NLS broke the story that Del. Leo Wardrup will not seek re-election. I had been hearing this for several weeks, but still nothing has been concrete yet.
I heard yesterday that at the Va Beach GOP breakfast Del. Wardrup was circulating petitions and also was doing a lit drop afterwards. Furthermore, I have heard that Wardrup has told people he doesn't know why anyone thinks he is retiring b/c he has never said that to anyone.
Either way, many are predicting that he will announce his retirement on the House floor on Wednesday. This seems to be the most probable outcome.
Joe Bouchard has already announced he is running for the seat as a dem; and perhaps others will try for that nomination if Wardrup steps down.
On the GOP side, Del. John Welch's legislative aide Robert Rummells appears to be running for the seat. I would imagine others will join the race; but Rummells should be considered the frontrunner right now for the GOP nomination.
One thing to keep in mind is the $109k Wardrup has in the bank. If he chooses to give that to his successor, the GOP will be in a much stronger position to hold the seat. Getting Wardrup's endorsement could also prove vital to getting the GOP nod here, if he gave his entire warchest to whomever he wanted to replace him.
I heard yesterday that at the Va Beach GOP breakfast Del. Wardrup was circulating petitions and also was doing a lit drop afterwards. Furthermore, I have heard that Wardrup has told people he doesn't know why anyone thinks he is retiring b/c he has never said that to anyone.
Either way, many are predicting that he will announce his retirement on the House floor on Wednesday. This seems to be the most probable outcome.
Joe Bouchard has already announced he is running for the seat as a dem; and perhaps others will try for that nomination if Wardrup steps down.
On the GOP side, Del. John Welch's legislative aide Robert Rummells appears to be running for the seat. I would imagine others will join the race; but Rummells should be considered the frontrunner right now for the GOP nomination.
One thing to keep in mind is the $109k Wardrup has in the bank. If he chooses to give that to his successor, the GOP will be in a much stronger position to hold the seat. Getting Wardrup's endorsement could also prove vital to getting the GOP nod here, if he gave his entire warchest to whomever he wanted to replace him.
posted by GOPHokie @ 1:19 PM
5 Comments:
At 4/01/2007 2:24 PM,
Anonymous said…
Off target on pretty much all of this one. Rummell is the only one claiming he is viable.
At 4/01/2007 3:05 PM,
Vivian J. Paige said…
And no one is going to challenge Bouchard on the D side.
At 4/02/2007 10:04 AM,
Anonymous said…
I hope the GOP runs Rummells. Delceno Miles would give the Dems heartburn, but I doubt she wins the nomination. Bouchard will be a great candidate, straight out of central casting. This guy was the base commander at Norfolk Naval Station. It will be a close race whether Leo runs or not. The district went for Kaine, went 48.5 for Webb, and 49.6 for Kellam. The question is will Bouchard get the financial support to make it a race?
At 4/03/2007 6:49 AM,
Anonymous said…
I think you all underestimate the anger and furor that conservatives have over Leo's vote to impose more government (Transportation Authorities), higher taxes, tolls and the broken car tax promise. There is a reason the district is voting for democrats. Its not that democrats are prefered, its that the republicans have made the conservatives so angry, that anybodybutarepublican is a better choice. Perhaps Leo could do something he's never done before, and do something for Virginia and go away! $109K won't matter to people who are angry about unprincipaled votes to raise their taxes.
At 4/06/2007 3:23 PM,
Anonymous said…
In today's VA Pilot, another person may run - Carolyn Weems currenly on the school board and has the best chance to win the seat if Leo goes to sit in his rocking chair.
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