The Bull Elephant has today confirmed that numerous supporters of former Rep. Eric Cantor are touting the as-yet undeclared candidacy for Cantor’s old seat by current Henrico County Sheriff Mike Wade.
Wade, who just won re-election to his current office in November, is apparently the chosen vehicle of the “establishment” wing of the GOP to unseat conservative upstart Rep. Dave Brat, who won the GOP nomination last year in an historic upset of Cantor.
Rep. Brat, to the frustration of many who would see him deposed, remains popular in his district. In contrast to his predecessor, Brat spends significant time hearing from constituents and seeing them face-to-face in small group and public settings.
His votes on Capitol Hill have pleased conservatives, and tweaked those who expect junior members to toe the leadership’s line. His defeat of Cantor arguably killed illegal immigration amnesty last year, and its cascading effects had much to do with the departure of former Speaker Boehner and defeat of Kevin McCarthy as his successor, meaning the Chamber of Commerce types have no love for him, and will dig deep to see him defeated.
So, it comes as no surprise for us to hear that Cantor allies have over the last several months been lining up financial backing among big “establishment” Republican donors nationwide to ensure that the “Tea Party” wing is taught a lesson.
Should make for an interesting spring.
52 comments
Mike Wade you were a good sheriff but you are doing the wrong thing trying to unseat Dave Brat, Dave is exactly what we need in that position and I am behind him 100%. He is a man of integrity and has done a great job
Who the hell says Brat is popular.. he has done nothing as a congressman except complain. He is still unknown in this district because he is so useless. I just want a leader in congress, one that does his job and actually knows how to govern. Is that to much to ask.
Sock puppet alert
[…] First up is former Third District GOP Chairman Mike Wade. Wade, according to numerous sources close to the matter, is apparently currently consulting for the Henrico Sheriff of the same name on the Sheriff’s campaign to oust Rep. Dave Brat. […]
[…] Of course, these votes have angered the establishment elites, and they are gearing up to primary challenge him: […]
Well here’s one Rep voter that had a hard time voting for Wade for sheriff, but for the other being on the Democrat ticket…….
If he runs, he should be man enough to give up his sheriff’s office to do so.
A debate between congressman Brat and Sheriff Wade would be highly amusing.
IKR right? Doesn’t seem like that clever of a strategery?
Our group just happened to stop in at Dave’s office after a canceled appointment with another Virginia congressman. Our own congressman had canceled on us after we had already arrived downtown for our appointment!
In contrast, Dave came out of his office and warmly greeted us and spoke with us on the issue. His staff was fantastic too. Dave is the best.
[…] heard a fragment on John Fredericks and saw this blurb at Blue Elephant about Henrico Sheriff Mike Wade possibly running in the primary against Cong. Dave […]
Well you know that it will be conservatives against republican establishment and democrats in the primary. The democrats will support the Sheriff just to get rid of David Brat. Another reason for party registration, but then the republican political leaders don’t want that. They love their democrat allies.
Sigh. Yeah, that’s why real conservatives don’t choose primaries. 51.What did Dave pick?
As of December 4: I rate this race as a toss-up right out of the chute. Wade is not to be dismissed lightly.
As for Congressional District 10: Comstock is a 1:10 favorite over Mark Berg or anyone else. Like Secretariat. Blowout.
If it’s a toss up for Wade, what is it for the Bollingator?
I am eager to see Sheriff Wade on the same stage with Congressman Brat!
1) This is not the best they can do, it is a feint and done for a purpose — my guess is allowing TP to illustrate how they will rub around on the ground.
2) I hope Dave has better supporters in his own district rather than the ones out-district that wallow about in comment sections (like me)
3) I don’t know the Sheriff other than he just got re-elected, is he one if the political babies that throw GOP tantrums when rejected by the populace?
Like I said…I’m really thinking its a clinical affliction. You are so utterly obsessed with the Berg debate that you are now bringing it up across other posts. I hope you find peace.
The topic comes up, I address. I’m good, no debate, thanks for caring. Pay attention.
They can do better, and better will run!!
Dave Brat is the best thing that has happened to the Virginia Republican party in generations. He is principled, committed, and approachable. He has proven a catalyst for change in Virginia and national politics. I will support him financially and as a volunteer. We will not go back to being an elitist party, where our congressman and his puppets are willing to slate delegates to exclude Republicans from party decisions. I am a Republican who totally buys in to the Tea Party’s radical principles of fiscal responsibility, Constitutionally limited government, free enterprise, and individual accountability.
Oh wait … those are the same principles contained in the Republican Creed. Golly.
He is a troll in the halls of congress.. a do nothing troll, No principles and completely useless I’m pissed he wasted my vote. I HATED Cantor, andhoped he would be better.. didnt think we could do worse. Brat proved me wrong. We did worse.
So RNC is not recruiting Bryce Reeves anymore?
I was going to be really impressed with “never say it’s over” Cantor’s hand-picked candidate until I realized I misclicked to Mike “taylor-made” Wade’s MMA facebook page and not Sheriff Mike “jenny-craig” Wade’s facebook site. Too bad as I thought the battle might be a lot more interesting, as Steve Albertson predicted for the spring, sort of the ring brawler vs. the academician. Not in the cards though just another run of the mill Cantor compatible sycophant vs Virginia’s top ranked conservative. Where’s the interest in that Steve, sounds like the graffiti tags they use too spray paint on all the Manhattan subway trains in NYC back in the late 1970’s – samo, samo.
How does Sheriff Wade make a case for performing better than Rep. Brat? A rating ; 100% from Conservative Review.
https://www.conservativereview.com/scorecard
That is only when assuming that republican candidates want conservative governance. Many do not. Many are simply democrat-lite.
The ones who elected Dave Brat want conservative governance. Dave Brat was remarkably forthright and blunt about his beliefs and how he would vote if elected and has followed through on the promises that got him elected. I don’t see his constituents un-electing him, given this.
Cantor is like a cockroach..can’t ever get rid of them once you get them.
Or bedbugs.
Both apt similes.
We got your back, Dave!!
So Dave Brat wins the nomination. Mike Wade pulls a Bill Bolling in “supporting” the nominee. Supporters of Mike Wade mount a write in campaign. RPV responds by doing: ?????
As usual you have netted this out and pointed to the single point of order that puts all the hand-wringing and self righteous justifications over the Berg affair to rest. RPV rules are to be interpreted by given situation and individual involved not applied by legal edict. Welcome to the next round of self-destructive infighting and dirty tricks. It actually gets boring after a while but I’m sure that the “I”ll primary yours and we’ll primary theirs approach” will get us a long way down the path to ensuring the continued growth of Democratic governance in Virginia. That is the point, right?
Yes, Big “D” Democratic governance.
Apples and Oranges.
The primary threat and execution are part of the game and taken into consideration.
It is the GOP outliers that try to dominate that narrow field so as to pretend relevance.
A Sheriff who wins re-election in a County is not in the same ballpark as a delegate who can’t win a self-chosen contest with a dream opponent nor follow-up invisible write-in tantrum.
lighten up we are joking
It’s a game the same way as Boxing is the sweet science. But it’s the only game adults can play and not automatically be deemed childish. (They do it to themselves)
Voting is a civic responsibility and the process is deadly serious. The act and tactics of political persuasion to get that vote, not so much.
But nice touch that righteous condescension, well played.
Lighten up we are only joking, we get your point after all you have spawned it about 50 times already over the past few days, trust me nobody that wants to hear it has missed it.
Joking eh? The only answer to ‘The Big Lie’ is to call and challenge. Branded ain’t F-Troop. Only 50? I’ve been simultaneously responsible for the uptick in ad revenues and bandwidth charges.
Also a god awful amount of repetition how about trying to get fixated on a new thought of topic, fresh air is invigorating.
is
sheriff Wade on SCC?
Does it matter…
Kinda — this is part of the problem with public online discussions. If the comparison being made is understood by all, then it is assumed that the premises are similar.
So yes, IF Sheriff Wade IS a party leader AND he DOES support other than the nominee THEN he will resign himself from that leadership position.
I’m starting to see how the RINOs on the left can so easily slice through the RINOs on the right if this kinda logical debate is what passes for directing leadership.
If you (or Sheriff Wade) joined the Republican party, you agreed to the same rules as you expect only party leaders to live up to.
Only membership in units and house organs are leadership positions. So only punishment is to lose those leadership roles.
However A) I don’t think he’ll run. B) if a) then he won’t win, and C) if b) then he won’t not-support the nominee and embarrass himself with a Sgt. Schultz write-in.
But I think that’s only if Dave chooses a primary. 53
Nope. The point is Dave Brat is likely to win and it isn’t clear that rules will be uniformly applied for any party position that Wade holds.
Why unclear? Resign is resign. Up to the unit. 52
Well Brat can surely expect an uptick in blog articles criticizing his actions on Capitol Hill.
and commending….. there’s more than one blog…. I’m sure the writers here will compliment him.
Dave Brat is a congressman the Founding Fathers dreamed of He has integrity, honesty, and is a principled man who knows he is a true representative of his constituents and votes for what they want not what some unscrupulous power hungry run of the mill arse kissing politician. He will not be pushed around by the likes of Boehner-like jerks. If we had a congress of Dave Brats, America would be better off. The GOP is so corrupt in their cushy positions, they can’t stand to have someone the caliber of Brat so they pull up some sheriff who is already beholding to the GOP establishment to try to oust a patriotic and deeply principled man They should be run out of congress on a rail since they are putting their own well being ahead of America’s.
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/browse?sponsor=412605 <-sponsored bills…..
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/114-2015/h665 <- why a nay??
99% of which will come from BD, the boys over there have been sore that they got it wrong ever since Cantor lost.