The Washington-based Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), the Democratic Party’s political operation focused on state legislative races, announced Monday a new six-figure investment in Virginia’s off-cycle state house contests—part of the DLCC‘s attempt to nationalize the Old Dominion hustings.
“Republican dysfunction has become a hallmark of national politics,” said DLCC Campaign Communications Director Abhi Rahman. “Their refusal to do the basic requirements of government, including choosing a speaker, shows us that this is all a game to them and they don’t care about the people they were elected to represent.
We're doubling down on our multi-million dollar investment to help Dems win in VA this November. We're seeing how the GOP-controlled U.S. House is incapable of governing – even in a time of international crisis. We can't allow that same incompetence to sabotage governance in VA. https://t.co/wB1aoM67ah
— Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (@DLCC) October 16, 2023
Virginia’s Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin has raised more than $12 million to support Republicans running for General Assembly through his Spirit of Virginia PAC—leaning into the possibility of hitting the trifecta. In 2021, Youngkin won the governor’s mansion, and the GOP captured control of the House of Delegates, which leaves the State Senate in the hands of Democrats because the upper chamber elections were last held in 2019.
The trifecta would end the Democrats’ embargo of Youngkin’s legislative agenda in the Senate. Capturing the Senate and holding the House of Delegates would force a rewrite of the conventional wisdom that the commonwealth is a purple state trending blue.
The feat would also be a tremendous trophy for the governor, who is limited to one term and presumably looking for another public office to hang his hat. There was talk one year ago that Youngkin would challenge Democratic U.S. Senator Tim Kaine—himself a former governor—but the rumor intelligence now is that Youngkin’s personal commitment to the legislative elections is a field test for a presidential run—challenging President Donald J. Trump for the GOP nomination.
Rahman was careful not to attack Youngkin, who is popular in Virginia, sticking to linking the commonwealth’s Republicans with their Capitol Hill brethren just 110 miles straight up Route 95.
“If national Republicans continue to show they won’t govern, why would Virginia Republicans be any different?” he asked.
“That’s why the DLCC is announcing another six-figure investment in Virginia, following the $2 million we’ve already invested this cycle into both the Virginia House and Senate caucuses,” the veteran of the Stacy Abrams political operation said.
Given an inside look at the DLCC’s plans, NBC News reported that the new outlay is $200,000.
Rahman also went back to the old standby, scaring suburban women with the ogre of an abortion ban.
“The only thing Republicans agree on is imposing an abortion ban everywhere they possibly can,” the former Texas Democratic Party communications director said.
“It’s time to elect Democrats who will do the job they were elected to do, safeguard our fundamental freedoms like access to an abortion, and put the needs of their constituents over petty, political games,” he said. “It’s time to elect Democrats in Virginia to put a check on MAGA Republican extremism in the commonwealth.”
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Neil W. McCabe is a staff reporter for The Virginia Star.
Photo “Abhi Rahman” by Abhi Rahman. Background Photo “Virginia Capitol” by Martin Kraft. CC BY-SA 3.0.
