Things may be getting interesting here in VA-01 where Catherine Crabill, our local Tea Party queen, has gathered enough signatures to challenge our incumbent Republican Congressman, Rob Wittman.
First, let's review the district's recent electoral history.
VA-01 is a gerrymandered district, stretching NW-SE with the city of Fredericksburg and its environs on the west end. The east end of the district contains parts of Newport News and Hampton with a substantial military presence around the naval bases. The historic city of Williamsburg is on the east end also. Between these east-end and west-end population centers is fly-over territory -- us folks in the rural counties of Westmoreland, Lancaster, Northumberland, Matthews, Gloucester, and Essex where deer, wild turkey, boats and tractors outnumber people.
The District has been represented by a Republican since 1977, however, McCain won by only 51 - 48. After the untimely death of Rep. Jo Ann Davis in October 2007, a special election was won by our current representative, Rob Wittman (R, VA), 60 - 37. In 2008, the first Democratic candidate dropped out about two months before the election for personal reasons and his replacement, Bill Day, started campaiging about six weeks before the election. Even with a late start, Day made a commendable showing, losing to Wittman 57 - 41.
Now, let's get to the crazy stuff.
VA-01 and the Virginia 99th General Assembly district are not the same but they are close enough for actions in one to affect the other.
In the 99th General Assembly district we are represented by Albert Pollard, a serious, popular, nose-to-the-grindstone Democrat.
HOWEVER -- we in the 99th GA District are also cursed with an active, growing, loud, influential Tea Party (mob ? group ? party ? you call it). They meet twice monthly, have yard signs and bumper stickers galore throughout the district, and they almost knocked off Al Pollard in November 2008.
Our local Tea Party candidate is one Catherine Crabill, a transplant from Arizona who makes Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann look positively sane -- yes, that's what I said -- sane. Crabill is a nut but anyone who dismisses her in today's environment is playing with fire.
Here's a video of Crabill's famous "ballot box - bullet box" speech that gained her national attention.
In the November 2008 General Assembly election, Crabill took on Al Pollard AND DAMN NEAR WON -- Pollard squeaked out a win, 52 - 48, with Crabill winning several counties. Crabill was ignored by the state Republican Party (they tried to get her to drop out) and Congressman Wittman did not endorse her and refused to appear at any campaign events for her.
Which brings me to the point of this diary: Crabill has declared that she will run against the incumbent Republican in a primary this spring and it appears she has gathered enough signatures to force a Republican primary.
Rep. Rob Wittman, (RMontross) will not only have to fight a Democrat to keep his seat in Congress but a Republican as well.
Friday, Catherine Crabill of Lancaster County, filed the required number of signatures with Republican First District Chairman Tom Foley to be listed as a candidate for the party’s congressional nomination in its June 8 primary.
Crabill submitted "about 1,500" signatures Foley said, adding that his comparison of the votes to the First District’s voter rolls showed that the signatories are registered voters as the law requires.
Crabill filed her petitions just before the April deadline for filing, Foley said. He noted that Wittman filed his petitions, which had 2,400 signatures in March. By filing first, Wittman is entitled to be listed first on the ballot, Foley said.
He added most of Crabill’s signatures came from the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.
As he returned from Afghanistan on Sunday, Wittman had no comment regarding Crabill’s qualification for the primary other than to note she has said she was running against him for the Republican nomination.
The primary is a "job interview every two years" he said, noting that his campaign would focus on leadership and "the things we’ve done."
The winner of the Republican primary will likely face Krystal Ball of King George and Fredericksburg who is the sole Democratic contentender in November’s election.
Adding to this mix are reports that Tea Party revolutionaries have taken over the county Republican committees in Matthews and Gloucester counties.
Meanwhile, VA-01 Democrats are poised to nominate 27-year-old newcomer Krystal Ball, a mother and owner of a small business. Ball's opponent, recently-retired Army colonel Scott Robinson dropped out after Ball supporters engineered majorities in several county Democratic committees in advance of next month's VA-01 Democratic convention. Ball has signed up with an LA (as in California LA) public affairs firm to run her campaign.
As of the end of Q1, VA-01 fundraising looks like this:
Democrats:
Scott Robinson: Raised $25,847; Spent $110,273; Cash on hand $103,130 (Withdrew)
Krystal Ball: Raised $99,070; Spent $111,805; Cash on hand $176,761 (also, debt of $53,359) (Presumptive Democratic nominee)
Republican
Rep. Rob Wittman: Raised $114,379; Spent $56,226; Cash on hand $452,361 (Incumbent)
No one knows how much money Crabill has for her primary campaign but one local Republican wag commented that now that she has enough signatures, her next concern is making certain her application check doesn't bounce.
Bottom line: May be too early to tell but Republican incumbent Rob Wittman CANNOT be happy with the Tea Party revolt in the VA-01 Republican Party.
Stand by.