State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia Votes to Rescind Statement of Affiliation

 

The SCC originally had approved the statement in September 2015, but the Democrat-controlled State Board of Elections altered and adopted a form – created by the Department of Elections – that retained only 9 of the original 47 words written and adopted by the SCC. Critically, McAuliffe’s Department of Elections replaced GOP branding on the original form with intimidating language meant to dampen turnout. Further, Attorney General Mark Herring compounded the problem with the addition of confusing legal guidance that would have made the day of the Republican Presidential Primary a logistical nightmare.

The SCC motion made clear that it was motivated not by any disagreement about the Party’s right of free association under the First Amendment to the US Constitution, but in recognition that Governor Terry McAuliffe’s administration and Attorney General Herring had purposely created a situation designed to confuse voters intending to participate in the March 1 Republican Presidential Primary.

RPV Chairman John Whitbeck fully supported the SCC’s decision. “Hillary Clinton’s campaign is imploding and Democrats are poised to potentially nominate an admitted socialist.  Now more than ever, Virginia will determine the future of Country, as voters will look to the Republican Party as the future of the Presidency.  In light of this, we must put this issue to rest once and for all and move forward with the business of winning the White House in 2016.”