Democrats in Joe Morrisey’s 74th House district in Richmond are doing all they can to prevent Morrissey from running for re-election under the democrat banner. [read_more] A democrat caucus has been scheduled for this evening in the 74th district to choose a democrat nominee to run for Morrissey’s seat in a special election on January 13th. Voting in tonight’s caucus will be severely limited with only 100 members permitted to vote. Morrissey will not be permitted to participate.
Meanwhile, Joe Morrissey’s political allies have filed a federal lawsuit to stop tonight’s caucus. The suit was initiated by Morrissey’s law partner and friend, Paul Goldman. Goldman, a former democrat party chair said,
“The democratic party ideals are to enfranchise. I’ve spent my life trying to get people more votes, giving everybody equal rights, how can I condone a process that was chosen for the exact opposite reason?”……
Given my long history of fighting for equal voting rights for all Virginians, I can’t condone my party using a sham process based on disenfranchising the African-American democrats in the 74th. Whatever the grievances the party establishment may have with Mr. Morrissey, their “two wrongs make a right” explanation for condoning something so directly contrary to democratic party ideals is patently absurd, it defies the law in my view, and frankly I don’t think Mr. Morrissey or anyone else who truly believes in these democratic values should be part of such a sham process under these circumstances.”
On Saturday afternoon Morrissey offered this comment,
“I am shocked that 100-party bosses have shut the door on thousands of African-American voters and I am not going to be a part of that process.”
Morrissey was permitted to leave jail over the weekend to campaign for the nomination. Should he not receive the democrat nomination this evening he will need to secure 125 signatures by the end of the day on Tuesday to be on the ballot as an Independent. However, if Morrissey wins the seat again it is likely that he will face an expulsion by his colleagues in House of Delegates.
More details on tonight’s caucus and the rest of the story here.
Stay tuned, this circus is far from over.
