UPDATED: Mark Obenshain and Dick Black top list of John Adams supporters

In the wake of yesterday’s stunning news about Del. Rob Bell’s withdrawal from the Virginia Attorney General’s race, Bell’s erstwhile primary opponent, Richmond attorney John Adams, is moving quickly to consolidate support.

The Adams campaign is touting impressive levels of support from a wide variety of elected officials and party leaders, including Sen. Dick Black (R-Loudoun), Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment (R-James City), and Speaker Bill Howell (R-Stafford). This comes after previously announced support from U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), and a number of other conservatives, including conservative stalwart Rick Boyer.

The full list of endorsements being touted by the Adams campaign:

U.S. Senator Mike Lee
Speaker of the House William Howell
Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment
Senator Dick Black
Senator Amanda Chase
Senator Siobhan Dunnavant
Senator Glen Sturtevant
Delegate Terry Austin
Delegate Dickey Bell
Delegate Chris Head
Delegate Terry Kilgore
Delegate Scott Lingamfelter
Delegate Manoli Loupassi
Delegate Jason Miyares
Delegate Chris Peace
Delegate Chris Stolle
Delegate Lee Ware
Virginia Beach City Sheriff Ken Stolle
James City County Sheriff Robert Deeds
Augusta County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tim Martin
Chesterfield County Commonweatlh’s Attorney Billy Davenport
Essex County Commonwealth’s Attorney Vince Donoghue
Louisa County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rusty McGuire
Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chuck Slemp
Former Dickenson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Josh Newberry
Chairman, Gloucester County Board of Supervisors John Meyer
York County Board of Supervisors Thomas G. Shepperd, Jr.
Prince William County School Board Member Willie Deutsch
Bedford Town Councilman Beck Stanley
Virginia Beach City Councilman John Moss
Former Chief Deputy Attorney General Chuck James
Former Secretary of Education Javaid Siddiqi
Former RNC National Committeewoman Kathy Hayden
Albemarle County GOP Chair Elliott Harding
Allegheny/Covington GOP Chair Benjamin Snedegar
Charles City GOP Chair Peter Churins
Craig County GOP Chair Jordan Labiosa
Cumberland County GOP Chair Diana Shores
Halifax County GOP Chair Todd McClure
Lynchburg City GOP Chair Brian Triplett
Nottoway County GOP Chair Bill Outlaw
Prince George County GOP Chair Wayne Cunningham
Richmond City GOP Chair Davis Rennolds
6th Republican Congressional District Secretary Sandy Gates
Vice Chair of Precincts for Charlottesville GOP Erich Reimer
Young Republican State Central Rep. Michael Wood
4th District State Central Member Carey Allen
5th District State Central Member Joanne Holden
5th District State Central Member Travis Witt
5th District State Central Member and Green County GOP Chair Ed Yensho
9th District State Central Member Marcy Hernick
George Mason University College Republican Chair Colin Sapko
Virginia Commonwealth University College Republican Chair Mackenzie Marcia

Notably absent so far is the name of Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg), the popular former GOP nominee who lost in 2013 in a contested recount to incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring. Obenshain had been sitting out this race, but we’ve heard speculation from certain quarters that Bell’s exit from the race may mean that an Obenshain endorsement of Adams is imminent.

As we reported yesterday, the Bell withdrawal appears to have potentially made room for another candidate to enter. A source close to Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Franklin) confirms that Stanley is indeed considering a run. Since yesterday’s news broke, Stanley has apparently received significant encouragement to run from a number of his colleagues, and from various quarters of the GOP base. We’re told Stanley is currently urging supporters to focus not on politics, but on spending Thanksgiving with their families, and that the Senator will turn to his decision on whether to run at some point after the holiday.

Stay tuned…this race could heat up quickly.

UPDATE:  In a huge boost to John Adams, Sen. Mark Obenshain, the party’s previous nominee for Attorney General, has now endorsed Adams for the 2017 GOP nomination. Obenshain offered the following statement of support:

As the Republican nominee for Attorney General in 2013, I know firsthand the grit and stamina it takes to fight the liberal establishment.  In 2017, it is imperative that Republicans nominate a candidate who is both qualified in his experience and prepared to run as our standard-bearer for conservative principles in the race for Attorney General. As a former Supreme Court Clerk for Clarence Thomas, an attorney for President George W. Bush in the White House, and a former federal prosecutor, I am confident that John has the ability to step in on day one and be a successful and effective lawyer for the Commonwealth. That is why I am fully supporting John Adams for Attorney General.

John’s unique background and incredible work ethic over the last 10 months of campaigning and gathering the support of grassroots conservatives across the Commonwealth have positioned him to not only run a competitive campaign but to defeat Mark Herring next year. As Attorney General, I am confident that John will protect our constitutional rights, defend the rule of law, and stay true to his conservative principles. John Adams has my full support in his bid to become the next Attorney General of Virginia.”