At last June’s Republican Party of Virginia State Central Committee meeting, Morton Blackwell stood in favor of choosing a nominating convention to bind Virginia’s delegates to the RNC. If we chose a primary, he warned, Donald Trump would win. Yesterday his prediction came true.
It should be clearer now than ever before that when we let Democrats and non-Republicans pick our nominee, we end up with candidates Republicans don’t like. But when we let informed Republicans, party activists, and conservative leaders pick our nominee, credible conservatives like Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio stand a far better chance.
And this fact doesn’t just extend to Virginia. Trump has dominated open primaries where Democrats and other non-Republicans participate in choosing our party’s nominees. On the other hand, in 3 of the 4 states where only Republicans voted, Ted Cruz won (the Iowa caucus, the Alaska caucus, and the Oklahoma primary).
If you’re frustrated that Virginia has chosen a New York liberal who likes the Obamacare mandate, praises Planned Parenthood, and who is an unrepentant adulterer who claims he’s never felt the need to ask forgiveness for anything, you know who to blame.
Those responsible for Trump winning Virginia are those who turned their backs on Virginia Republicans and voted for an open primary.
Those who voted otherwise must have known there was the chance their plans could backfire. They didn’t want to stand publicly in favor of letting Democrats pick a candidate like Trump. They pushed for a “secret ballot” so they could hide their vote. Leading the charge for a secret ballot, and making the motion for it, was Terry Wear, the 11th district chairman. Thanks for nothing Terry. I hope you’re proud of Trump’s win in Virginia.
Eric Herr, Chairman of the First District GOP, insisted on a recorded vote so that Virginian Republicans would know who to blame should a candidate like Trump prevail. Those who voted “No,” voted to choose a primary in secret, and therefore voted to hand Virginia to Trump.
Many of these people are running for re-election this year. Make sure you ask them how proud they are of their secret vote now.
POSITION | First Name | Last Name | Vote (Aye for Roll Call, No for Secret Ballot) |
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | John | Whitbeck | — |
1st Vice Chairman | Michael | Thomas | No |
National Committeeman | Morton | Blackwell | Aye |
National Committeewoman | Kathy | Hayden | No |
Secretary | Diana | Banister | No |
Treaurer | Rich | Nilsen | Aye |
General Counsel | Chris | Marston | — |
Finance Chairman | Pete | Snyder | Aye |
1st District Chairman | Eric | Herr | Aye |
2nd District Chairman | Curtis | Colgate | No |
3rd District Chairman | Chris | Stearns | Aye |
4th District Chairman | Jack | Wilson | No |
5th District Chairman | Lynn | Tucker | No |
6th District Chairman | Wendell | Walker | No |
7th District Chairman | Fred | Gruber | Aye |
8th District Chairman | Mark | Kelly | Aye |
9th District Chairman | Adam | Tolbert | No |
10th District Chairman | Jo | Thoburn | Aye |
11th District Chairman | Terry | Wear | No |
College Republican Federation | Kasha | Nielsen | No |
College Republican Federation | Devon | Flynn | No |
College Republican Federation | Jake | Lee | No |
Young Republican Federation | Daniel | Webb | No |
Young Republican Federation | Jeff | Wernsing | Aye |
Young Republican Federation | Michael | Wood | Aye |
Federation of Republican Women | Linda | Bartlett | No |
Federation of Republican Women | Miki | Miller | No |
Federation of Republican Women | Elizabeth | Mundy | No |
House Caucus | Jackson | Miller | Aye |
Senate Caucus | John | Cosgrove | No |
House Caucus | Jimmie | Massie | No |
Senate Caucus | Bryce | Reeves | No |
Eastern Vice Chairman | Kevin | Gentry | No |
Eastern Vice Chairwoman | Juanita | Balenger | No |
Western Vice Chairman | Al | Aitken | Aye |
Western Vice Chairwoman | Suzanne | Curran | Aye |
1st District Representative | Steve | Albertson | Aye |
1st District Representative | Jeanine | Lawson | Aye |
1st District Representative | Larry | Kile | Aye |
1st District Representative | Allen | Webb | Aye |
1st District Representative | Carol | Dawson | Aye |
2nd District Representative | Roger | Miles | Aye |
2nd District Representative | Carl | Anderson | Aye |
2nd District Representative | Cheryl | Hargrove | Aye |
2nd District Representative | Stephen | Corazza | No |
3rd District Representative | Barbara | Tabb | No |
3rd District Representative | Stephen | Thomas | Aye |
3rd District Representative | Chip | Muir | No |
4th District Representative | Steve | Trent | No |
4th District Representative | Bill | Flanagan | No |
4th District Representative | Rick | Michael | No |
4th District Representative | Bob | Wheeler | No |
4th District Representative | Carole | de Triquet | No |
5th District Representative | Renee | Maxey | Aye |
5th District Representative | Chris | Shores | Aye |
5th District Representative | Peyton | Knight | Aye |
5th District Representative | ClaraBelle | Wheeler | No |
5th District Representative | Travis | Witt | Aye |
6th District Representative | Georgia | Alvis-Long | No |
6th District Representative | Mickey | Mixon | Aye |
6th District Representative | Joseph | Sonsmith | Aye |
6th District Representative | Gene | Rose | Aye |
6th District Representative | Anne | Fitzgerald | Aye |
7th District Representative | Jane | Ladd | No |
7th District Representative | Doug | Rogers | No |
7th District Representative | Marie | Quinn | No |
7th District Representative | Kristi | Way | No |
7th District Representative | David | Fuller | No |
8th District Representative | Noah | Wall | Aye |
8th District Representative | Anne | LeHuray | Aye |
8th District Representative | Matthew | Burrow | Aye |
9th District Representative | Kevin | Corbett | No |
9th District Representative | Michelle | Jenkins | No |
9th District Representative | Marcy | Hernick | No |
9th District Representative | Jerry | Lester | No |
9th District Representative | Susan | Edwards | Abstain |
10th District Representative | Heidi | Stirrup | Aye |
10th District Representative | Julie | Williams | Aye |
10th District Representative | Mark | Berg | Aye |
10th District Representative | Kay | Gunter | Aye |
10th District Representative | Eve | Gleason | Aye |
11th District Representative | Keith | Damon | Abstain |
11th District Representative | Patsy | Drain | No |
11th District Representative | David | Ray | Aye |