In January Vince Haley entered the race for Chairman of RPV against the current Chairman John Whitbeck. In February he suspended his campaign. Haley has now decided to reactivate his campaign against Whitbeck in the April 30th State Convention in Harrisonburg. Haley’s announcement could come as early as Tuesday morning.
In a quote from someone close to the campaign, Haley is getting back in because “He had hoped that the Republican Party of Virginia was taking steps to become an organization that was laser focused on victory in November and the fair management of party races across the Commonwealth. This hope was misplaced, which is why he is reactivating his campaign for Chairman.”
Stay tuned.
UPDATE: We note above that Haley “suspended” his campaign in February, which is how Haley’s team have described that move. We should also note that in February he issued a statement in which he said, “Today, I have decided to withdraw from the race for RPV Chairman.” The distinction between “withdraw” and “suspend” may determine whether Haley is allowed to have his name on the ballot at the RPV State Convention in Harrisonburg at the end of this month.
UPDATE #2: Today Vince Haley issued the following statement:
Dear Friends,
You are the lifeblood of the Republican Party — the keepers of the Republican Creed. You do the hard work needed to win: staff the polls; knock the doors; make the phone calls; and have your voice heard at conventions.
It is in the spirit of service to you that I have made the decision to re-enter the race for RPV State Party Chairman. I humbly ask for your support.
When I suspended my campaign in February, I had hoped that the Republican Party of Virginia would take steps to become an organization that was laser focused on victory in November and the fair management of party races across the Commonwealth. This hope was misplaced, which is why I am reactivating my campaign for Chairman.
We have an umpire problem at RPV.
How are we supposed to trust that the RPV organization will play a fair role in party races anywhere in the Commonwealth when the RPV Chairman and his Executive Director have inserted themselves in local party elections in an attempt to defeat their disfavored candidates?
This is not the fair calling of balls and strikes by a neutral umpire.
This is picking a side. It’s an abuse of trust.
Who would want to get involved in a local party race if all the time and hard work of grassroots candidates can simply be neutralized by shadow money allocated by the RPV Chairman and his Executive Director?
If this is business as usual for those running a state party organization that we the party faithful are supposed to accept – then count me out. I oppose such a practice, I pledge to never engage in such behavior if elected Chairman, and I hope to rally a majority of those attending the state party convention to join me in doing so.
How can RPV be laser focused on victory in November if it is so busy trying to enforce loyalty to RPV leadership?
The RPV should not try to control the direction of local parties. RPV should instead let the will of the grassroots play out in their local jurisdictions.
In order to be prepared for victory in November, we must have a Party that is competent and totally dedicated to fighting for the Republican Creed. We are in desperate need for an autonomous state party — an honest broker above any suspicion that it is tipping the scales for or against certain candidates in party races.
You deserve not just a better RPV, but an excellent Republican Party of Virginia. You deserve leadership that represents you with honor and never forgets that leadership in our Party is a sacred trust. The principles of the Republican Creed are not secondary considerations. I’ve devoted the last 14 years of my life to that cause. I am proudly 100% pro-life, pro traditional marriage, pro-2nd Amendment, pro-Veteran, and anti-tax-and-spend. As RPV Chairman, I will not compromise our Republican Creed nor kowtow to those who would undermine it. I will not take marching orders from anyone else but you. I will fight for our common values and I’ll make sure national Republicans hear your voice loud and clear this summer in Cleveland.
The time to restore our identity and trust in our Republican Party is right here and now. Let’s elect a Chairman who is unafraid and unapologetic to stand with those who honor the very principles for which our Founding Fathers sacrificed their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor.
You deserve a Chairman that keeps his promises. You deserve a Chairman who will raise money for the Party to use for victory. You deserve a Chairman who works to make sure the Party processes are fair, professionally, and efficiently run. You deserve a Chairman who uses his bully pulpit to promote the values espoused by the Republican Creed and you deserve an RPV staff that will be effective, efficient, experienced, and totally devoted towards assisting the grassroots and servicing their needs.
With a Republican Party that guards its principles and keeps its promises, we can save our Republic, bring greater prosperity and freedom to the Citizens of the Commonwealth, and bring the Republican Party of Virginia into a new era of principle, efficiency, service, and victory.
I earnestly look forward to your support, our conversation, and engaging with so many new friends over the next few weeks. Thank you for this tremendous opportunity to keep the promise. Let’s build a party worthy of our creed and of you, the grassroots.
I look forward to seeing you in Harrisonburg at the James Madison University Convocation Center on April 29th and 30th and I humbly ask for your vote.
In Service,
Vince Haley
