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Virginia Republicans file lawsuit in attempt to remove McAuliffe from the ballot
The Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) announced Thursday that they are suing the State Board of Elections (SBE) in an attempt to get the Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe removed from the ballot for not signing a declaration of candidacy form in March. It is unclear, however, if a judge would be able to find the grounds to rule in favor of RPV and remove his name from the general election ballot this November.
“Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, and Terry McAuliffe’s clear violation of the law severely jeopardizes the integrity of our elections in Virginia,” said Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Rich Anderson. “For decades, Terry has used his political connections and proximity to power to avoid consequences for his reckless behavior and disregard for people and laws, but no amount of political favors and back-slapping can refute the fact that McAuliffe is a fraudulent candidate and cannot be Virginia’s next governor.”
The lawsuit from RPV states that leaving McAuliffe on the ballot would cause irreparable harm to Virginians. ”The RPV seeks to protect its rights, and the fundamental rights of its members and the voters who associate with it, from the serious and irreparable harm that would occur if Defendants—the Commonwealth’s chief election authorities—do not immediately act to address a serious misrepresentation and deficiency in the candidate qualification process for the upcoming election for Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia,” the 20-page complaint reads.
McAuliffe’s campaign has only provided one statement since RPV announced the lawsuit. “Our campaign submitted the required paperwork,” tweeted McAuliffe spokeswoman Christina Freundlich. “This is nothing more than a desperate Trumpian move by the Virginia GOP to deprive voters of a choice in this election because Terry is consistently leading in the polls.”
The State Board of Elections has not commented.
Rep. Spanberger called on President Biden to extend Afghanistan withdrawal deadline
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) released a statement Thursday morning urging President Joe Biden to extend the Aug. 31 deadline for the complete removal of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The statement from Spanberger, a former CIA agent, was co-authored by Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH-16) and endorsed by 75% of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group in Congress comprised of 58 members – equally divided between Democrats and Republicans.
“As Democrats and Republicans, we stand united in our commitment to protecting U.S. citizens, diplomats, intelligence officers, and our foreign partners who are currently attempting to flee Afghanistan. In this time of tremendous danger, politics must be put aside to advance our common goals,” Spanberger and Gonzalez wrote in the statement. “From this week’s bipartisan Member briefing, it is apparent that the Administration’s set date for departure from Afghanistan on August 31st does not provide enough time to evacuate all American citizens and our partners. We respectfully call on the Administration to reconsider its timeline and provide a clear plan to Congress that will result in the completion of our shared national objectives.”
The statement was released early Thursday morning, prior to the terrorist attack that took place outside of the airport in Kabul, killing 13 U.S. service members and wounding 18 more. An ISIS affiliate has claimed credit for the attack.
“In this moment, I am praying for our troops, diplomats, and public servants on the ground who have been carrying out their complex mission under extremely dangerous circumstances,” Spanberger said in a statement after the attacks in Kabul. “Our men and women serving in harm’s way represent the best of America.”
Virginia GOP tries legal tactic to force Democrat McAuliffe off the ballot for governor – Washington Post
by Greg Schneider and Laura Vozzella
The Republican Party of Virginia filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to remove Democrat Terry McAuliffe from the ballot for governor because his signature is missing from a candidate form he submitted to the state in March.
Republicans touted the lawsuit on social media, but a similar suit against McAuliffe argued last week by a pair of Virginia voters failed to persuade a Richmond judge to halt the printing of ballots for the November election.
Statement of House of Delegates’ Republican Leader Todd Gilbert on U.S. Casualties in Afghanistan
House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert issued the following statement:
“The U.S. Marines and Navy corpsman killed today gave their lives doing what the best of our armed forces have always done: standing in harm’s way, putting themselves between innocent civilians and those who would do them harm. I ask that each and every Virginian join me in holding their loved ones in our prayers.”
“The loss of anyone who wears our country’s uniform is a tragedy. This one is all the more so since it was wholly unnecessary. The failure of the Biden administration to execute an orderly evacuation and withdrawal from Afghanistan put more American lives at risk. The fruits of placing one’s trust in terrorists are always bitter.”
More Local News
- Youngkin stumps in Lynchburg, condemns Biden’s handling of Afghanistan withdrawal
- George Allen with Glenn Youngkin in Salem: Liberal agenda must be stopped
- Miyares courts law enforcement support for November AG election
- Virginia students’ performance on Standards of Learning tests plummeted during pandemic
- Virginia’s breakthrough case numbers are likely an undercount
- Fairfax County child dies of covid-19, public health officials say
- Suit filed for transgender inmate in Virginia prison alleging he was denied necessary surgery
- Demand for COVID-19 tests spikes as delta variant spreads
- Video shows D.C. officer fatally shooting armed motorist as he drives away
- Fairfax County child dies of covid-19, public health officials say
- Some Virginians are trying to game the system for early COVID-19 booster shots
National
- Twin bombings at Kabul airport kill 13 U.S. service members and dozens of Afghans
- ISIS claims responsibility for attack; Biden vows retribution
- ‘Dead people were everywhere’: Carnage and chaos at Kabul airport
- The darkest day of Joe Biden’s presidency
- Kamala Harris’ campaign rally for Newsom canceled after Afghanistan attacks
- Congressional Democrats criticise Biden’s handling of Afghanistan withdrawal
- U.S. officials provided Taliban with names of Americans, Afghan allies to evacuate
- Supreme Court Ends Biden’s Eviction Moratorium
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