At last night’s forum, Cathy Copeland and Brent Finnegan, running for the Democratic nomination in the 26th House of Delegates District disagreed little on topics like education, the environment, the economy, abortion, and gun control. And they spent lots of time criticizing Del. Tony Wilt, the Republican incumbent one of them will face in the general election.
On Thursday afternoon, a fifth candidate formally announced his candidacy for the 25th District House of Delegates seat, vacated after surprise announcement from Del. Steve Landes (R-Verona) that he will not seek re-election in November. Marshall Pattie, an associate professor of management at James Madison University and member of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors, made his announcement at First Witness Security in Mount Sidney.
The Democratic committees from Harrisonburg and Rockingham county have decided to hold a state-run primary to nominate the party’s candidate for Virginia’s 26th House district. It’s a change – supported by both candidates – from 2017, when the nominee was selected in a firehouse primary
On Tuesday, surrounded by prominent fellow Republicans on the courthouse steps, Del. Tony Wilt announced his intent to seek a fifth term representing the 26th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. His announcement follows recent campaign launches by two Democrats hoping to face him in next year’s general election. In his remarks on Tuesday, Wilt emphasized a grassroots approach to the upcoming campaign.
It’s beginning to look a lot like 2017. Or is it? Once again Cathy Copeland and Brent Finnegan are vying for a chance to take on Republican incumbent Tony Wilt, who was first elected in 2010. But while the candidates might be the same, the campaigns might look a little different this time, especially if the election process for the Democrats changes.