The National Republican Campaign Committee earlier today named 10th Congressional District nominee Barbara Comstock to a coveted spot in its Young Guns program.

Del. Barbara Comstock
[UPDATED with additional information regarding the “Leans Republican” rating for the 10th District race.]
Back in March we reported that Comstock had been tagged as being “on the radar” for the NRCC’s “Young Guns” program, and today she has formally been added to their roster. From the NRCC press release:
The National Republican Congressional Committee announced today that 10 Republican candidates have reached ‘Young Gun’ status, the top tier of the Committee’s three-level recruitment program. These candidates have reached the third and final level by establishing a clear path to victory through their ability to build a formidable campaign structure and achieve important goals and benchmarks.
“Candidates that reach ‘Young Gun’ status have met a series of rigorous goals that will put them in a position to win on Election Day,” said NRCC Chairman Greg Walden. “Our job as a committee is to help elect Republicans to office that will serve as a check and balance on the Obama Administration. These 10 candidates have outlined conservative principles that will grow jobs, stop the harmful effects of ObamaCare, and get Washington’s spending under control. I am confident that these candidates will continue to advocate for hardworking families in their respective districts through the November Elections.”
This program has been a very successful candidate recruitment and development program over the years, and lots of candidates do their best to get picked. It means they have a competitive race, but that they’re very attractive candidates in terms of messaging, polish, organization, etc. This imprimatur is a signal to national donors that these candidates are viable, and likely to be good investments for campaign cash.
This is great news, and a real boost to our ability to hold that seat, and comes on the heels of the Cook Political Report’s having rated the 10th District contest between Comstock and Democrat John Foust as “Leans Republican.” From Cook’s (subscription required):
Lean Republican. This is exactly the kind of open seat Democrats would need to capture to win the House, but with six months to go, Democratic Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust is an underdog against GOP state Del. Barbara Comstock. Democrats badly want to cast Comstock as a far-right extremist out of step with the Northern Virginia suburbs. But given how artfully Republicans have drawn the lines here and the nature of the year, they will need to catch a few breaks to win. . . .
[R]aising Comstock’s negatives won’t be easy, considering the 10th CD’s location. Democrats will need several million dollars to effectively define Comstock in the pricey DC market, and given that Comstock has gone on DC broadcast in past delegate races, there’s no doubt she will have the resources to paint herself in a positive light and, if need be, attack Foust as a tax-and-spend liberal.
This is a candidate who is going to win, folks.
Important note, given some of the other political news these days: Although the Young Guns program was originally started by Rep. Eric Cantor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) (the original “Young Guns” of the House), it is wholly within the NRCC today. Don’t confuse it with YG Network (and its side project, YG Virginia), which is the Cantor-affiliated 501(c)(4) organization that has assisted in the delegate disenfranchisement debacle in Virginia this past winter and early spring. That organization is completely distinct and separate from the NRCC.
Congratulations to Del. Comstock!
17 comments
A protégé of Frank Wolf who fervently supported and believed Joe May was a bedrock conservative until Dave LaRock removed him from his delegate seat recently. My instinct tells me she will talk conservatism during primary and re-election stints but vote as a loyal house foot soldier for the Boehner/Canter establishment leadership. I may well be wrong regarding her future but Marco Rubio should have taught all conservatives to be very wary. Her positions on key issues remain “soft” or ill defined and many in the 10th district, of which I am one, remained unconvinced.
The problem I have with the NRCC is they also have a separate Incumbent Protection committee. A few years ago it was headed by Mike Rogers, I don’t know who heads it currently.
The Young Guns that the NRCC supports with financial donations, among other things like lists of approved consultants, are candidates that are either running for retiring house members seats like Frank Wolf, or who are running against Democrats for the first time. IOW, even if Dave Brat raised a billion dollars and had the top campaign team, he would not qualify as a Young Gun because he is challenging Cantor the incumbent. In addition, when anyone including an organization is supporting your General election race, especially financially, they are not doing it just out of the goodness of their hearts. Let’s hope Barbara Comstock looks up those like Louie Gohmert or Trey Gowdy for guidance. They were both Young Guns that didn’t fall down through the DC trap door.
Excellent article, excellent news!
Great – so this means Comstock is part of Cantor’s RINO machine? Wonderful… 🙁
The NRCC Young Guns program is different than Cantor’s Virginia Young Guns program. Was confused on that point myself until it was clarified for me.
I don’t blame them for picking Comstock, their job is to prioritize electable candidates and she runs a professional campaign.
Even though Bob Marshall is more of a statesman than Comstock is, I am glad we didn’t lose Bob at the state level – we REALLY need him to protect us from the Statist Trifecta – Herring, Mcawful & Northup.
No, this Young Guns doesn’t have anything to do with YG Virginia, and isn’t run by Cantor but the whole NRCC. And check the candidates they back: not exactly a collection of squishes. http://www.gopyoungguns.com/
thanks for clarifying that..
I had Guest’s reaction too; but you say NRCC Young Guns is different than Cantor’s VA Young Guns. Will you please do an article on this and clear up the confusion for a lot us? It would be greatly appreciated.
Comstock was endorsed by Mark Levin and Eric Cantor. I dont know what to believe.
That’s what gives me chills….
Eric Cantor can tell me the sky is blue and I’ll still go outside and look for myself. The man has no credibility.
Read the article!
I did , but missed the YG /Young Guns subtle difference….
Why not ask Comstock herself who she supports in the 7th District, Cantor or Brat? Get it on the Record.
They seem to have moved her from the 3rd level directly to the 1st level. Speaks volumes about how impressed they are with her.
She’s a very impressive candidate!