Virginia's 1st congressional district special election, 2007
Encyclopedia
After the death of Republican
Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis
on October 6, 2007, a special election was required to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the 110th United States Congress
. Governor Tim Kaine
announced that the election would occur on December 11, 2007. The Republican and Democratic candidates were selected by political conventions
on November 10, 2007. Republican state legislator Rob Wittman
was elected, defeating Democratic nominee Philip Forgit and independent candidate Lucky Narain.
Captain Ted Hontz by a 106-91 convention vote. The Democratic convention was held in Williamsburg, Virginia
. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
did not invest large amounts of money into the campaign, opting instead to fund Robin Weirauch
's campaign in an special congressional election in Ohio
.
Rob Wittman
as their nominee when Paul Jost withdrew before the sixth ballot could be announced. The Republican convention was held at Caroline High School in Caroline County, Virginia
. The Republican convention drew a wide variety of candidates, including former State Delegate
Dick Black; former Republican Party
official Jim Bowden; Sherwood Bowditch, the Director of the Virginia Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs; David Caprara, an activist; retired FBI
agent David Corderman; Chuck Davis, the widower of late Congresswoman Davis; businessman Paul Jost
, attorney Kevin O'Neill, and businessman Rob Quartel.
, filed the necessary petitions to be placed on the ballot as an independent candidate. He criticized Wittman for supporting a transportation tax increase despite having signed an anti-tax pledge; Wittman claimed that he had not signed that particular pledge.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis
Jo Ann Davis
Jo Ann Davis was a Representative in the U.S. Congress. A member of the Republican Party from the United States Commonwealth of Virginia, she represented the state's from 2001 until her death in 2007. She was the second woman—after Leslie L...
on October 6, 2007, a special election was required to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the 110th United States Congress
110th United States Congress
The One Hundred Tenth United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the second term of President George W. Bush. It was composed of the Senate and the House of...
. Governor Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
announced that the election would occur on December 11, 2007. The Republican and Democratic candidates were selected by political conventions
Political convention
In politics, a political convention is a meeting of a political party, typically to select party candidates.In the United States, a political convention usually refers to a presidential nominating convention, but it can also refer to state, county, or congressional district nominating conventions...
on November 10, 2007. Republican state legislator Rob Wittman
Rob Wittman
Robert J. Wittman is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches from the fringes of the Washington suburbs to the Hampton Roads area...
was elected, defeating Democratic nominee Philip Forgit and independent candidate Lucky Narain.
Democratic
Democrats nominated Iraq War veteran and former teacher Philip Forgit over retired United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Captain Ted Hontz by a 106-91 convention vote. The Democratic convention was held in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
did not invest large amounts of money into the campaign, opting instead to fund Robin Weirauch
Robin Weirauch
Robin Weirauch is an American politician of the Democratic party who was the party's 2004 and 2006 nominee to challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Paul Gillmor for the seat in Ohio's 5th congressional district.Weirauch is the daughter of a retired Master Staff Sergeant in the United...
's campaign in an special congressional election in Ohio
Ohio's 5th congressional district special election, 2007
The 2007 special election in Ohio's 5th congressional district occurred when the district became vacant following the death of incumbent Paul E. Gillmor. A special election to fill the seat was called by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland for December 11, 2007. Republican nominee and Ohio State Senator...
.
Republican
After five ballots, Republicans chose State DelegateVirginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
Rob Wittman
Rob Wittman
Robert J. Wittman is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches from the fringes of the Washington suburbs to the Hampton Roads area...
as their nominee when Paul Jost withdrew before the sixth ballot could be announced. The Republican convention was held at Caroline High School in Caroline County, Virginia
Caroline County, Virginia
Caroline County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 28,545. Its county seat is Bowling Green. Caroline County is also home to The Meadow stables, the birthplace of the renowned racehorse Secretariat, winner of the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and...
. The Republican convention drew a wide variety of candidates, including former State Delegate
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
Dick Black; former Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
official Jim Bowden; Sherwood Bowditch, the Director of the Virginia Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs; David Caprara, an activist; retired FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
agent David Corderman; Chuck Davis, the widower of late Congresswoman Davis; businessman Paul Jost
Paul Jost
Paul Jost is a businessman, conservative activist and chairman of the Virginia chapter of Club for Growth. Jost was twice a candidate in the Republican nomination for the congressional seat vacated by Herb Bateman in 2000 and again by Jo Ann Davis in 2007. He also ran for Virginia State Senate in...
, attorney Kevin O'Neill, and businessman Rob Quartel.
Independent
Lucky Narain, a former Peace Corps volunteer, Army Reservist, and grant writer from YorktownYorktown, Virginia
Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
, filed the necessary petitions to be placed on the ballot as an independent candidate. He criticized Wittman for supporting a transportation tax increase despite having signed an anti-tax pledge; Wittman claimed that he had not signed that particular pledge.