RGA Chair Dumps Trump; Why Won’t Virginia Gov. Candidates?
RGA Chair Dumps Trump; Why Won’t Virginia Gov. Candidates?
Gillespie, Stewart, Wagner, Wittman Won’t Budge From Trump Endorsement
On Saturday, the Chair of the Republican Governors Association (RGA) announced that she will vote against Donald Trump, joining a parade of national Republicans in renouncing the presidential nominee.
New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, the Chair of the RGA, called Trump’s comments on women “completely unacceptable” and announced she “will not support him now.”
The RGA will likely be the top donor to the Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee in 2017. But all 4 Republican candidates for governor in Virginia – Ed Gillespie, Corey Stewart, Frank Wagner and Rob Wittman – have stuck by their endorsements of Trump.
“History will remember who stood up to Donald Trump’s sexism and racism – and so far all 4 Republican candidates for governor are along for the ride on the Trump Train,” said Democratic Governors Association Communications Director Jared Leopold. “Why are Gillespie, Stewart, Wagner and Wittman standing by Trump, when even the Republican Governors Association Chair has left him? It’s time for them to join Republicans and Democrats in renouncing Trump’s campaign.”
BACKGROUND
Corey Stewart is the Virginia Chair of Donald Trump’s Campaign for President. According to the Washington Post, “Donald Trump and Corey A. Stewart had never met before the front-runner for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination held a rally in Manassas early this month. But people who know the longtime chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors say it makes perfect sense that Trump tapped him this week to chair his Virginia campaign.” [Washington Post, 12/16/15]
Ed Gillespie is Supporting Donald Trump for President. According to the Washington Post, “Republican Ed Gillespie, who is running for Virginia governor in 2017, carefully avoided taking sides in his party’s divisive presidential nomination contest — until now. On Wednesday, with just one contender left standing, Gillespie said he would vote for Donald Trump.” [Washington Post, 5/4/16]
Congressman Rob Wittman is Supporting Donald Trump for President. According to the Washington Post, “Another Republican running for Virginia governor, U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, also issued a statement indicating that he would support Trump. He managed to do so without ever using the word ‘Trump.’” [Washington Post, 5/4/16]
State Senator Frank Wagner Is Co-Chair for Hampton Roads of Donald Trump’s Campaign for President. According to the John Fredericks Radio Show, State Senator Frank Wagner was named the co-chair for the Trump campaign of Hampton Roads. [John Fredericks Radio Show, 10/2/16]
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