With the resignation of LG-elect Ralph Northam set for noon on January 11, Governor Bob McDonnell announced that the special election for the 6th Senate district will be held January 7. Democrat Lynwood Lewis will face Republican Wayne Coleman in the contest. While the turnout for special elections is always different from those of general … Continue reading E-Day in the 6th: Jan. 7
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. It is the first of several columns that I have planned on Virginia's lack of a university system for its four-year public universities. The topic has interested me for a couple of years, after having been brought to my attention by one of the regular … Continue reading ICYMI: University system has lost its way
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot last Thursday. A couple of things were on my mind as I wrote the article Wednesday morning. First, the close AG race. I had no idea that, as of right now, the margin between the two Marks - Democrat Herring and Republican Obenshain - would shrink … Continue reading ICYMI: A post-election scramble – and wait
Election Day is tomorrow - Tuesday, November 5. Despite the polls, we all know that the only poll that counts is the one on Election Day, when we cast our ballots. So make time tomorrow to get out and vote. The candidates (listed in the order on which they will appear on the ballot - … Continue reading Who’s on your ballot
I did pretty well with my predictions on who The Virginian-Pilot would endorse this cycle, including the one statewide contest that I managed to get in before they endorsed. I missed one - the Portsmouth sheriff's race. And it appears that there will not be an endorsement in one race - the 100th House. It … Continue reading Pilot endorsements roundup: 13/14
Endorsements for Peninsula House of Delegates contests are handled by The Daily Press. Today, the editorial board published its endorsements of incumbents Mike Watson (93rd) and Mayme BaCote (95th), along with challenger Rob Farinholt (94th). The endorsements are thoughtful and worth a read, particularly since the ed board has, in the past, leaned right. ~ … Continue reading DP endorses Watson, BaCote, Farinholt
Campaign finance disclosures covering the month of September were due at 5pm Tuesday. By now, I'm sure everyone has seen the numbers for the statewide candidates, so I won't reproduce them here. (If not, check out VPAP.) Here are the numbers for Hampton Roads contested house races: Total receipts In-kind Loans received # donors Cash … Continue reading 10/15/13 Financial Reports
I have no idea when The Virginian-Pilot, which covers the southside of Hampton Roads, will print its endorsements. But I don't want to be caught off-guard, like I was with the statewide endorsements. So I figured I'd get a jump-start on this. I don't know whether the entire board has embraced editorial page editor Don … Continue reading Predictions on Pilot endorsements 2013 edition
The Virginian-Pilot's Julian Walker reports today on the race behind the race in the 6th Senate district. The jockeying began almost from the time that current occupant, Ralph Northam, announced his run for lieutenant governor. (Some of the potential candidates had started even earlier.) From the article (paywall): Potential candidates on the GOP side include … Continue reading Jockeying in the 6th Senate underway
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-PIlot Thursday. I was reading part 2 of the CNU poll (pdf), which was released Wednesday morning, which included this graph. How often do 70% of us agree on anything? My first reaction was: wow. If the majority agrees, why do we keep electing folks that don't look … Continue reading ICYMI: Partisanship ahead of the public good?
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 