Former Chairwoman of the James City County Board of Supervisors, Mary Jones, is expected to announce her candidacy for U.S. Congress today in a Facebook Live event at 2:00 p.m.
Jones will take on first term U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor (VA/R-2) in the GOP primary next June. Taylor upset 4th District incumbent Randy Forbes in a Republican primary in June 2015 to capture the 2nd District seat held by Scott Rigell since 2010. Forbes decided to run in the 2nd District when the courts redrew the 4th District, making it a likely Democratic seat.
The 2nd Congressional District includes Virginia Beach, the Eastern Shore, and much of the Peninsula.
Sources tell me that Jones is calling donors and telling them that Taylor is pro-gay rights, and therefore, needs to be defeated. In addition, it appears her campaign will initially be based on a platform of defeating an establishment Republican.
Only problem is: Taylor defeated an establishment Republican –Forbes—two years ago.
Taylor, a former Navy Seal and tireless campaigner who connects with his base, is an overwhelming favorite to win re-nomination.
Under normal circumstances, I would rate this challenge as gadfly status, with Jones getting about 20 percent of the “burn it to the ground” protest vote.
But that all changed when Sen. Bryce Reeves (R-Stafford) sent out a statewide mailer blasting his GOP rival in the June 13 Lt. Governor primary race, Sen. Jill Vogel (R-Fauquier), for voting in favor of a gay judge.
I thought the mail piece would backfire on Reeves. It did the opposite, and almost propelled him to a late upset victory. That mailer taught me a lot about the state of some Republican primary voters on the issue of gay rights in Virginia.
So we are not writing Jones off – just yet.
Perriello’s Peccadillos
Liberal firebrand Tom Perriello, who lost the 2017 Democratic gubernatorial nomination to Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in June, is now leading the effort to elect Democrats to the Virginia House of Delegates in the fall campaign.
But some Democrats are telling me privately that Perriello is doing more harm than good.
They cite several tweets he has sent, including one calling on the Rev. Jerry Falwell Jr. – a Trump supporter – to obtain an “exorcism” to rid himself of the devil’s grasp.
“The devil has his grip so firmly around [Falwell] that I’m praying for his exorcism,” Perriello tweeted in mid-August, followed up by this tweet: “White evangelical leaders, your whiteness is the golden calf you choose to worship and idolize, in blasphemy of God’s word. #RepentNow.”
The Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) was quick to condemn Perriello’s remarks. “It is never acceptable to slander and smear a religious group,” the RPV said in a press release. “We demand that Tom Perriello immediately apologize to Jerry Falwell Jr. and evangelical Christians.”
The state GOP also called on Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, State Attorney General Mark Herring and Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner — all Democrats — “to unequivocally denounce Tom Perriello’s statements and call them what they are: bigotry.”
And Virginia Delegate Les Adams (R-Chatham), a Liberty University alumnus, called Perriello’s tweet about Falwell “outrageous.”
To make matters worse (or better for some), Perriello has doubled down on Virginia’s statues and monuments removal debate, calling them “mythical” and chiding opponents for not calling for all Confederate monuments and plaques to be removed.
Some Democrats I’ve talked to are grumbling that Perriello’s high octane salvos are not exactly helping the cause of their candidates, many who are running in traditionally moderate districts held by Republicans. One high placed state Democrat source told me, “It’s all about him. His position should be behind the scenes, seen but not heard.” Other high ranking Democratic officials have said privately they are not impressed with Perriello’s group. “He’s over-paid and underperforming,” one offered, who requested anonymity to talk freely.
Several sources told me Perriello got the job at the behest of a small group of powerful Northern Virginia donors, who believe Clinton’s loss could have been avoided if she ran on the progressive principles that Perriello champions.
44 comments
Where does this Mary Jones stand on supporting our President?! -> ONLY question I care about. And many other Virginia GOP too.
She wouldn’t have to do much to be better than Taylor on that front.
“Liberal firebrand Tom Perriello, who lost the 2017 Democratic gubernatorial nomination to Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in June, is now leading the effort to elect Democrats to the Virginia House of Delegates in the fall campaign.
But some Democrats are telling me privately that Perriello is doing more harm than good.”
———
Never interrupt the enemy while he is in the process of destroying himself:-P
TP drew more votes in the primary than any Republican candidate. If you think him weak, consider the implications of that statement.
…. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7e45911f42de29bd435492a449c3123e410e5b0a8fc111db396567712df56e2c.png
What is Scott Taylor’s voting record score card on Conservative Review?
If it is below a B+ he is probably a RINO. Comstoct is between 17% and 19% and in the company of liberal democrats.
Scott Taylor has pretty much voted moderate and liberal since going to Congress. The Tea Party group in his area is livid with him.
Washington can change people. Even Marco Rubio was tea party seven years ago.
Yeah, usually as soon as the plane lands.
LOL
Sadly, you are correct.
I don’t give her much of a chance, but that’s also what most of us thought about Dave Brat.
Something is hitting the fan: Jason Kessler associate member of the Greene Co Republican Committee? Really?
Really? Where did you see that? He is quite the chameleon.
A friend mentioned it to me in passing, said Rob Bell supported the nomination and that they specifically asked him about his white nationalist affiliation. I asked this as a question because I’d like to hear it refuted. God knows I hope it cannot possibly be factual.
Unlike Mr Frederick’s lead in using vague, anonymous references, this was written by Kellen Squire and posted at BlueVirginia.
“What IS specifically recorded in the minutes, however, is a voice vote, by unanimous consent, to make Jason Kessler an associate member of the Greene County Republican Party.”
Idk, I wasn’t there but it would seem fairly easy to verify/refute.
And so what? Anyone can join as an associate member, and attendance at the meetings is not required. It’s very probable that no one in Greene County new who Jason Kessler was. Had anyone ever heard of him prior to Corey’s campaign?
Pfft, not anyone can join. If I go there and say I’m a flaming transgendered abortion doctor, they letting me in?
As long as you promise to vote Republican and support the Republican Creed, yes they will.
Sure, as long as you give them money, all politicians will say “come on in.”
Lmao, he was born in Charlottesville, went to UVA, was found guilty of assault in Jan, and nooobody could find annnnybody that knew anything about him. My my how ol Cville has grown into such the metropolis that a native son can live in complete anonymity to those around him.
I do stand corrected then, come one come all, sign the creed (edit: and pay the fee. How could forget about the ol collection plate, my bad) and who cares. How about that Republican Party inclusiveness? Who knew?
Upon further review, it seems as though there is a timeline issue here:
“Ed Yensho, Greene County Republican Committee chairman, said Kessler had applied to be an associate member, who is a nonvoting member, earlier this year but was no longer a member as of Aug. 18.”
As written by Terry Beigie in the Culpeper Star-Exponent. (See citations really aren’t that daunting a task)
So it would seem that yes, Mr Kessler was a member but is no longer. Wonder what clued them in?
Sounds like you are spreading false rumors.
Perhaps he was looking to vote in a convention.
LOL… perhaps:-)
Can’t say I haven’t seen it before.
And then there is this: https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e10d0ee8dacc4f7d1b3dc50e4891cb4aa86e4a0e888c340e3853193a9071a069.jpg
Personally, I don’t care who Jason Kessler is or is not. Whether he is a genuine racist or a Occupy and Obama supporting liberal plant who joined the party and played Nazi to try and smear it, he had a permit and the police should have done their jobs of keeping the Antifa folks from getting violent (or arresting them when they did).
I do know CNN employed a *different* Jason Kessler — a person with the same name, spelled the same way, and that the Jason Kessler to which I refer was never a CNN journalist. Now it looks like you are spreading false rumors.
I personally don’t care if he is a different Jason Kessler (although I will point out you asserting that does not make it so).
And then there is this: http://theblacksphere.net/2017/08/charlottesville-organizer-former-cnn-reporter/ from a columnist who says he knows him personally and it is the Kevin Kessler from CNN.
You sent a virus link. You should be thrown off this list for it. Seriously.
And his name is not Kevin, it is Jason. And no, they are two different Jason Kesslers. Your assertion to the contrary is mistaken, but nowhere near as rotten as passing along malware, which is unforgivable.
To others: Do not click on “theblacksphere.net” link under any circumstances. It is in the above message from AmyH.
I did not send anything of the sort ya tweek. I linked to the personal blog of Kevin Jackson who is a contributing columnist for Breitbart and the American Thinker.
I clicked and immediately got a virus. Name calling again — “ya tweek”?
I have clicked on it several times and I didn’t get a virus… I also looked up Kevin Jackson and verified at least part of his claimed work.
It is a Firefox addon virus that infects Firefox browsers. I do not know what browsers or OS you use but my browser immediately showed a virus from malware that wanted me to buy my way out of its effects (888 number). I got my IT person to immediately clean the computer, switching to another in the meantime. Seriously. It’s a real problem, whatever is your experience with it.
I am using Firefox and I got nothing when I clicked on it… not even a popup saying something was blocked.
“A CNN spokesperson confirmed this denial in a statement to Salon: “The Jason Kessler who previously worked for CNN is not the same Jason Kessler who organized the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville. Same name. Different people.”
Which is why I presented as I did — someone mentioned it to me, they must’ve read it somewhere. So mentioned that “I’d like to hear it refuted. God knows I hope it cannot possibly be factual.” And your response is that it “Sounds like you are spreading rumors.”
I seriously doubt Rob Bell had any idea who Jason Kessler and Rob Bell does not live in Greene County.
For the slow kids in class, that means that Rob Bell would not have been there and would not have the ability to support any nominations if he were.
As a slow kid in class, I take that to mean you have direct knowledge of the situation and directly refute the statement from personal knowledge.
Your words not mine dude. I have direct knowledge of how people join the Republican party and that is all that is necessary.
Do you then consider it refuted and incorrect? Do you then declare he was never an associate member of any Republican committee? Will you stand by those words? Or is this another guess and rumor? I did not declare it anything more than a rumor that I’d hope cannot be factual. You are declaring it is not factual, am I correct in my understanding.
Clearly, AmyH has trouble standing by her words even as cut and paste delivers them, so I am hopeful you have some integrity as regards yours (and I presume you do).
http://bluevirginia.us/2017/08/the-local-gop-committee-voted-for-jason-kessler-my-opponent-sat-there-and-let-em
You are an unforgiving bunch! LOL
Sorry, John. Taylor IS Establishment. It does not matter who he previously defeated.
Have been working the Republican table at the SGK Hampton Gun Shows. The number of Va Beach Republicans who have told me that they want to get rid of Taylor has surprised me. I am even thinking about voting for Mary Jones.. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/793df4022ef90ca75d74b4c15fb2a865a15df05d8d189247196a67eabc66ce4a.jpg