Virginia Republicans elected Chesterfield lawyer Jack Wilson to be their new party chairman Saturday, choosing an establishment favorite to guide the state GOP through tough midterm congressional elections and beyond. Wilson won by a 53-to-25 vote at the meeting in Richmond. Wilson takes over at a dismal time for Virginia Republicans, who lost all three statewide offices last year and saw their overwhelming majority in the House of Delegates all but evaporate. The party has not won a statewide election since 2009, when Robert F. McDonnell led a sweep for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. The chairmanship, a volunteer post, became open when John C. Whitbeck stepped down in July, saying he wanted to pursue unspecified “political opportunities.”

Source: Washington Post September 08, 2018 17:39 UTC