Virginia Mega Thread: The Youngkin Administration

[Duke of York]

Also a 20D-19R Senate doesn't mean Democrats "lose control" of it.

How is it 20-19? Im confused. The Republican isn't getting the seat by default and no court is going to rule that way.

Also Daily Wire is not a very good source.

[brucejoel99]

https://x.com/lukerosiak/status/1723483423535157476

"Could Lose Control of 21-19 Senate"

Hashmi won her election against Republican Hayden Fisher last Tuesday with 62% of the vote. Fisher told The Daily Wire, "I plan to stop them from certifying the election. She's disqualified, that means I ran unopposed as a matter of law."

[...]

Fisher, a lawyer, said Hashmi's votes must be declared null and void, and therefore the election goes to the second-place candidate — him. Holding a new election would not be appropriate because it would not punish the conduct, he said, and because of Democrats' new law requiring 45 days of early voting, it would be enormously expensive to taxpayers and candidates, and leave residents of the district without a senator for months.

"Should the commonwealth have to pay for a special election because the Democrats' candidate was dishonest?" he asked.

"Holding a new election would be inappropriate because of the law requiring voting" is a conclusion so bonkers that it only makes sense it was published by a Ben Shapiro outfit. The Daily Wire just takes the loser at his word here that the proper procedure is for the ineligible votes to be declared null-&-void & for the runner-up to be certified as the winner by-default.

Meanwhile, the actual relevant Virginia state law:

When a vacancy occurs in the membership of the General Assembly during the recess of the General Assembly or when a member-elect to the next General Assembly dies, resigns, or becomes legally incapacitated to hold office prior to its meeting, the Governor shall issue a writ of election to fill the vacancy.

Also a 20D-19R Senate doesn't mean Democrats "lose control" of it.

They only "lose control" under the assumption taken as inherent by the loser & The Daily Wire that her ineligibility would mean he wins by-default & that the Senate is thus 20-20 with Winsome Sears breaking the tie.

Also a 20D-19R Senate doesn't mean Democrats "lose control" of it.

How is it 20-19? Im confused. The Republican isn't getting the seat by default and no court is going to rule that way.

The losing Republican is claiming it's 20-20 if she's ineligible but if she's actually ineligible, it's 20-19 pending a special.

[Duke of York]

https://x.com/lukerosiak/status/1723483423535157476

"Could Lose Control of 21-19 Senate"

Hashmi won her election against Republican Hayden Fisher last Tuesday with 62% of the vote. Fisher told The Daily Wire, "I plan to stop them from certifying the election. She's disqualified, that means I ran unopposed as a matter of law."

[...]

Fisher, a lawyer, said Hashmi's votes must be declared null and void, and therefore the election goes to the second-place candidate — him. Holding a new election would not be appropriate because it would not punish the conduct, he said, and because of Democrats' new law requiring 45 days of early voting, it would be enormously expensive to taxpayers and candidates, and leave residents of the district without a senator for months.

"Should the commonwealth have to pay for a special election because the Democrats' candidate was dishonest?" he asked.

"Holding a new election would be inappropriate because of the law requiring voting" is a conclusion so bonkers that it only makes sense it was published by a Ben Shapiro outfit. The Daily Wire just takes the loser at his word here that the proper procedure is for the ineligible votes to be declared null-&-void & for the runner-up to be certified as the winner by-default.

Meanwhile, the actual relevant Virginia state law:

When a vacancy occurs in the membership of the General Assembly during the recess of the General Assembly or when a member-elect to the next General Assembly dies, resigns, or becomes legally incapacitated to hold office prior to its meeting, the Governor shall issue a writ of election to fill the vacancy.

Also a 20D-19R Senate doesn't mean Democrats "lose control" of it.

How is it 20-19? Im confused. The Republican isn't getting the seat by default and no court is going to rule that way.

The losing Republican is claiming it's 20-20 if she's ineligible but if she's actually ineligible, it's 20-19 pending a special.

Therefore his claim of I should get the seat by default is absurd as Virginia law is crystal clear and a exception won't be made for him.

[Nyvin]

No judge in their right mind would change the eligible candidates of the election "after" people cast their ballots based on a technicality.  The Republican only got 37% of the vote...people would go ape-sh!t crazy if he's declared the winner.

The very most that could happen is the seat remains vacant while a special election is called.

[Birdish]

In the history of this country, has a candidate ever been disqualified after the fact and the position goes to the runner up? I don't think that's a thing that has ever happened.

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

I don't really see where they're getting the idea that the Republicans would be awarded the seat. There doesn't seem to be a set precedent for that anywhere. Seems like wishful thinking on their part.

Most likely the seat would just be kept vacant and a special election (that the dems would easily win) will be held, but I doubt anything happens.

[henster]

This whole thing is very coordinated and elaborate, they even got her neighbors to spy on her and file the suit. Makes me think this was a serious backup plan for Republicans, but the remedy they're asking for is a serious hail mary.

[Duke of York]

This whole thing is very coordinated and elaborate, they even got her neighbors to spy on her and file the suit. Makes me think this was a serious backup plan for Republicans, but the remedy their asking for is a serious hail mary.

It’s not even a Hail Mary. No judge will go for it.

[Ferguson97]

If they didn't make John Ashcroft a Senator after he lost to a dead guy, I don't see why they'd make this guy a state legislator after he lost to a woman who didn't live in the district.

[Skill and Chance]

In Virginia, each chamber of the legislature has final jurisdiction over who won a disputed election to one of their seats if the losing candidate files an election contest.  The chamber with the disputed seat acts as a court of last resort and can declare a winner by majority vote.  The decision of the legislative chamber would be final and unreviewable by any court (unless it was somehow found to violate the federal constitution, but this very process was used in Mississippi just a few years ago).  If a lower court somehow ruled in favor of this insane position, Hashmi would file an election contest before the state senate.  The seat would be held vacant until the dispute was resolved (they could not be bound to follow any state court or SBE order to seat the Republican) and the worst case scenario would be a 20/19 vote to seat Hashmi next winter.

Also, there is a Republican in the (soon to be) Dem majority HoD facing a dispute of just this sort.  Democrats actually could declare his opponent the winner 51/48 with no recourse if they really wanted to.  Senate Republicans should keep that in mind. 

[Mr. Matt]

In the history of this country, has a candidate ever been disqualified after the fact and the position goes to the runner up? I don't think that's a thing that has ever happened.

Sorta happened with a PA State Senate race in Philly back in 1994 (which actually shifted control), but that was moreso because of voter fraud than candidate ineligibility NYT link

Are there any rules in Virginia about living in the district x years from election day or taking office? I think sometimes because of redistricting, those rules get thrown out in court at least for the first race after a redistricting.

[LtNOWIS]

There was that time Joe Morrissey moved, and the state house leadership removed him from office over residency issues. But that wasn't new information coming to light, it was him deciding to move so he could seek higher office.

[Duke of York]

Thus far no news outlet other than Daily Wire who’s not a good source has reported on this.

[brucejoel99]

https://twitter.com/ChazNuttycombe/status/1723557786854863319

[Duke of York]

https://twitter.com/ChazNuttycombe/status/1723557786854863319

why would they be DQ'd as well?

[brucejoel99]

https://twitter.com/ChazNuttycombe/status/1723557786854863319

why would they be DQ'd as well?

Their districts aren't their main residences, so if she doesn't meet the standard of residing in her district, then neither do they.

[Duke of York]

https://twitter.com/ChazNuttycombe/status/1723557786854863319

why would they be DQ'd as well?

Their districts aren't their main residences, so if she doesn't meet the standard of residing in her district, then neither do they.

Yet another reason why no judge will go for their insane argument because they'd have to apply that standard to other members as well.

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

Thus far no news outlet other than Daily Wire who’s not a good source has reported on this.

Reminds me of the fake news story of Kamala Harris’ books being handed out at the border the NYpost put out two years ago. You knew it was fake because not even Fox News picked it up.

[wbrocks67]

Literally why would anyone give a DailyWire article the time of day is beyond me.

[Duke of York]

Literally why would anyone give a DailyWire article the time of day is beyond me.

yes. Still nothing from any other news outlet not even ones in Virginia.

[Aurelius2]

Still no winner declared in Loudoun County's DA race. Should be finalized tomorrow, I think.

[JMT]

Spanberger officially running for Governor in 2025:

https://twitter.com/spanbergerva07/status/1724033299721433213?s=46&t=-r8JGlJ...

[JMT]

https://twitter.com/jamesd0wns/status/1724070902839558328?s=46&t=-r8JGlJno4t...

[The Economy is Getting Worse]

Likely - Safe D. Trump will be the President in 2025.

[Aurelius2]

https://twitter.com/DKaplanFox5DC/status/1724116590206095583

Unless more ballots are out there somewhere, Biberaj must win 82% of outstanding ballots to close the gap. If some of the provisionals are invalid, she needs to do even better than that.