7 Republicans vie for party’s nomination in governor’s race

Seven Republicans face off this weekend to claim their party’s nomination in the crowded race for Virginia governor.

Businessman Glenn Youngkin leads in fundraising at nearly $7.7 million, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, followed by fellow businessman Pete Snyder, former House Speaker Kirk Cox and State Sen. Amanda Chase.

Democrats have been in control of the General Assembly and governor’s mansion for two years, and in that time, have transformed Virginia into a symbol of the New South with progressive laws that rein in police power, abolished the death penalty and legalized marijuana.

For the first two years of the next governor’s tenure, Democrats will maintain control of the Senate, and could maintain control of the House of Delegates this year, throwing into question how much change a Republican governor could realistically expect to achieve.

So far, the candidates have touted plans to reopen schools and lift pandemic restrictions. They have pushed for similar issues, including strengthening gun rights and opposition to liberal education reform.

Youngkin, a founder of the Carlyle Group investment firm making his first run for political office, has touted his resume and his religious convictions. He said he wants to lower taxes and “cut red tape” while “mak(ing) sure Virginia leads the nation in law enforcement.”

Snyder, a former Fox News contributor who is the founder of New Media Strategies — a social media marketing agency that he started in 1999 — said he will focus on “bringing a conservative majority with me to the General Assembly.” In 2012, he chaired a party group trying to elect Republicans in Virginia and nationally. In 2013, he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.

Cox, 63, represents the House’s 66th District, which includes Colonial Heights and part of Chesterfield County. He was first elected in 1989 and was the House speaker before the GOP lost the majority in 2019. A retired high school teacher, Cox says he wants to allocate more money to “address law enforcement compensation” and “cut unnecessary regulations” at the state level.

Chase, a firebrand conservative with a long history of making inflammatory remarks, has generated many headlines for her refusal to wear a mask in public, her “Trump in heels” moniker and, among other things, her lawsuit against her Senate peers for censuring her for a “pattern of unacceptable conduct.” Earlier this year she also sued the state’s Republican party over its plans for a nominating convention to choose candidates in this year’s election. If she wins, Chase said she wants to eliminate the governor’s social distancing mandates and “get Virginia back to normal, just like Florida.”

Sergio de la Peña, 65, a former Defense Department official, immigrated to the United States before spending 30 years in the military “because he believes America is the greatest country in the world,” according to his campaign website. He said he campaigned for former President Donald Trump in 2016 because he “saw firsthand how Obama gutted our military and made America less safe.” If elected, he wants to get more Republicans elected to “repair the damage of Democrat rule in Virginia.”

Peter Doran is the former CEO of the Washington-based Center for European Policy Analysis. In his role, he warned about Russian efforts to undermine Western democracies. This is his first run for public office. He launched efforts after the 2019 legislative elections in Virginia to recruit more Republicans to run for office. If he wins, Doran said his plan is to “(work) with the legislature on … the big issues facing Virginia.”

Octavia Johnson, whose campaign has earned the least at about $900, was sheriff in Roanoke for eight years before being unseated in the 2013 election. She ran for a House of Delegates seat in 2014 in a special election seat but lost to Democrat Sam Rasoul. If she wins, Johnson wants to “dispel the fear the current administration has ignited in the citizens of Virginia” and reopen the state’s businesses and schools.

Pandemic restrictions on mass gatherings have prevented the GOP from holding a traditional convention. So the party has instead opted to hold an “unassembled convention” in which delegates who preregistered to participate will cast ballots at more than 30 locations to choose a nominee.

Early voting for the Democratic primary started April 23 before the official vote June 8. The Democratic field includes former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, former Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy, state Sen. Jennifer McClellan, Del. Lee Carter and Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax.

The general election is Nov. 2.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Amanda Freeman Chase

Age: 51

Occupation: State senator and retired business owner

Previous office held, if any: None

Education: Business degree from Virginia Tech, corporate finance and business management

Website: chaseforva.com

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Kirk Cox

Age: 63

Occupation: Former public school teacher, Delegate for VA’s 66th House District

Previous office held, if any: Speaker of the House and Majority Leader

Education: James Madison University

Website: www.kirkcox.com

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Sergio de la Peña

Age: None given

Occupation: Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs. He stepped down from that position to run for governor.

Previous office held, if any: None

Education: Bachelor of Science – University of Iowa; Master of Military Arts and Sciences – Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS. Military Education: Command and General Staff College Inter-American Defense College

Website: https://www.sergiodelapena.com

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