Yesterday was an earthquake heard around Virginia. This earthquake started on Saturday May 8, and ended yesterday evening when Pete Snyder conceded the race to our nominee and likely next Governor, Glenn Youngkin.
Youngkin got into the race and was immediately considered an afterthought, until he started mixing it up with different audiences – and he took off. The first time I ever saw Mr. Youngkin, I was fascinated with how well he connected with local audiences. We were in Staunton together, and it was obvious that Mr. Youngkin could interact with the crowd, and left most of the people at this event favorably impressed. The Youngkin tour went around the state, talking to people in groups of 20-30, until these groups became groups of 50-75, and then groups of 100, and then 200, until finally, Mr. Youngkin was packing them in like Donald Trump would.
This is how politics should be – Mr. Youngkin ran on a set of ideals, a talk about who he was, what formed his values, how he had never wanted to be involved too deeply in politics, but that what was happening in Virginia was too much, and that someone had to step up. And Mr. Youngkin said to himself, if not me who?
Mr. Pete Snyder, who I’ve known for several years, was gracious enough to concede to Glenn. I respect the heck out of Pete, Pete ran a great campaign and put a great team together. Having lost campaigns before, it’s always hard to admit that your dream of winning is over – even if only temporarily. Thanks Pete for having offered to serve and for having run a great campaign. Same with Kirk Cox, Amanda Chase, Sergio De La Pena, Pete Doran, and Octavia Johnson. Each is to be thanked for giving their best. Sergio De La Pena also has conceded the race and congratulated Glenn on his well earned victory. Me. De La Pena is a fascinating candidate who has a future in statewide politics. I’d hope that he will remain engaged and involved. Same with each candidate who didn’t win on Saturday.
As your Chairman, I am your voice to each of the candidates. And I spoke with each statewide candidate, and told each statewide candidate who would listen that ballot integrity was the most important thing to CD 6 voters/delegates. This is something that many of you told me, and I passed this onto the candidates. Let’s be honest, you can’t have a democracy when the results of the election can’t be trusted. Interestingly enough, the fact is that Glenn Youngkin was the 1st statewide candidate to come up with an election integrity plan. Also of some interest, Jason Miyares, our AG nominee, had a rather fascinating election reform plan which included a specific recruitment of more election officials in each polling place to prevent election fraud. And each of them was 1st in their respective races when it came to talking about election integrity. Interesting what happens when our candidates listen to the will of the people!!!!
There are other things that need to be said, but we’ll wait until all the races are decided and then go from there. For now, congratulations to Glenn Youngkin, and it’s time for the party to begin to unite around Mr. Youngkin.
Be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Virginia needs you now.
More later this week
I remain
your servant
JM
S John Massoud
6th District Republican Party Chairman
