The PAC formed by Ed Gillespie in support of his bid to be elected Governor in 2017 has had a fruitful week. It hosted its first fundraiser earlier this week, drawing north of $250,000 in contributions in a single night, and now has formed a very solid group of supporters from across the Commonwealth.
Called “217 for 2017,” the list of 217 ground floor grassroots and local elected supporters of Gillespie’s candidacy is pretty impressive, particularly considering the nomination battle is still well over a year away. Equally impressive is that the group (which includes at least 30 members of the Republican Party of Virginia’s State Central Committee, and nearly as many GOP Unit Chairmen) was reportedly assembled in just a couple of weeks. The list is long on well-established names in the party, but also includes newer names, including a number of prominent Tea Party activists.
Here’s the full list:
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Gillespie is the only confirmed candidate in the 2017 race on the Republican side.
Others mentioned for the job include Rep. Rob Wittman, along with former Attorney General and 2013 gubernatorial nominee Ken Cuccinelli, and state Sen. Tom Garrett. All four gentlemen are hosting hospitality suites tomorrow night at the Republican Party of Virginia’s Advance, an annual gathering of activists, party leaders, donors, and various politicos, to be held at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs.
23 comments
Your strongest statement: “The list is long on well-established names in the party, but also includes newer names, including a number of prominent Tea Party activists.”……….is probably the weakest link in a victorious campaign effort that Mr. Ed Gillespie will need to fix. Why…because this list does not include the names of the population demographics that republicans will need to win the next statewide election…..Where are the Terone Greens, Ashley Taylors, Donald Scoggins, Carl Tates, Ida McPhersons, Colby Dillards and Bradley Thomas’s?…..the African-American voter still represents 20% of Virginia’s voters……..
In Ed’s defense, which is hard for me, he did do outreach to the Cuban/Latino population in Virginia Beach. So he’s trying to fix some of the gaps in the vote.
My friend, Kaylene Seigle, is an African American. She supported Ed Gillespie last time and will support him again this time.
Quite the manazery of folks. Not sure how many will be wanting a job from their endorsement? I see campaign workers and consultants mixed with establishment insiders that will surely want payback. On the bright side there are a couple of solid grassroots people here as well. We shall see if any other contenders jump in.
If successful, all will be rewarded appropriately, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Eh, I’m not all that enthused about Ed. I think if his opponent is Northam, he’ll win, but he’s not all that exciting a candidate. Ed, to me, is the generic Republican on the ballot.
Completely disagree. He’s a fabulous candidate. He did us proud when he ran for the Senate and made Warner look foolish on several occasions. Just hope he can get the nomination. Who else is running?
What did he do that marks him as a charismatic man? As someone who can rally the troops? I pay too much attention to politics, and I didn’t see anything in Ed Gillespie that was more than the generic Republican on the ballot.
His campaign team was good, the man himself? Not memorable. He doesn’t have personal gravitas.
As of now, a little under two years from election day, nobody else has announced. Others will probably announce late 2016 to early 2017.
Having character, a plan, and being very proactive aren’t qualities we should take for granted. Those are missing in too many of our elected officials. Delegates I know say that McAuliffe has done absolutely nothing, plus he has little to no character. His only job is to deliver virginia’s electoral votes to Hill.
That’s my point, he didn’t show great character, make himself a figure to follow. His plans? Forgettable, generic, He wasn’t inspiring. He didn’t say a thing I remember that caused me to vote for him, I voted for him because he wasn’t Mark Warner. I didn’t vote for Ed, I voted against Mark, and that’s the problem.
McAuliffe is a crook, it’s hard not to better than him. You’d have to dig for somebody worse.
OH HELL NO.
I’m not ready to commit to anyone just yet, but Ed has shown that he understands we need to compete all over the Commonwealth if we’re going to win statewide, and was helpful to conservative General Assembly candidates this year, when many other establishment figures were not. He’s definitely earned a second look from me.
Impressive list. Tim Phillips, Chairman of Americans for Prosperity. That group will be a big help to Gillespie.
I know. AFP events are food and drink-laden. I loved knocking on doors for them. That outfit knows how to take care of its volunteers.
My favorite Ed Gillespie qoute was when he claimed … “I don’t believe we’re the party of big business” as he spent his entire potitical and consulting carreer buried to his elbows in one crony deal after the next. As the state party political elites are sipping their wine and fawning over his early “lead” at their resort focused gathering this week, I would like to add my name to another list. I’ll call it the “lowly voter list” who wants a CHANGE in Virginia. If any of you out there are in agreement please feel encouraged to join me.
I too want change in Virginia – I’d like to see a Republican governor. That’s why I’m supporting Ed Gillespie.
Well I believe what your response to my comment produced is a non sequitur unless of course you believe Gillespie is the only Republican in Virginia. Might want to give it another shot.
I believe he’s the one best positioned to actually beat Northam. There are millions of Republicans in Virginia – do you actually think they all have an equal chance at victory?
No, but I believe Gillespie has little to no chance. Politics is like old fish it doesn’t fresher the second or third time around and in a cycle of Donal Trump and anti-establishment fervor it’s downright delusional.
I’m taking you seriously on that one. I’m sick of the elite leading us to defeat. I would like a candidate who has earned my vote, not a candidate I’m told I have to vote for because the other guy is worse.
The problem is we’re getting a “Shut up, you don’t understand you peon” any time we air our grievances. That alienates not just the party base, but the blue collar and churchgoing folks that aren’t decided on a candidate.
You can add your name to the list here: https://letsgrowva.com/get-involved/
done…. thanks
you can go ahead and add me to the list as well. I continue my support from his Senate campaign and will join my friends and neighbors from Chesterfield in our grassroots effort.