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The elections on Tuesday are particularly vital in
their implications for Rappahannock County,
and for reshaping Virginia’s leadership in the next century.
There are three main forces at work that will be forged from this popular vote:
• Virginia’s Leadership. With a Republican governor continuing in power, a clear GOP win of seats in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates would put the Republican party in near absolute control of the Virginia legislative agenda, probably for the next four years.
This has not happened in the commonwealth for more than 100 years, and is a serious threat to healthy political checks and balances in any time.
• State Redistricting. The General Assembly taking office in January will — with the influence of Gov. Jim Gilmore — control the every-10-years redistricting of both congressional and state legislative districts.
A GOP sweep virtually would assure a gerrymandered reshaping of electoral districts under Gov. Gilmore’s direction, designed to protect every Virginia Republican member of both Congress and the General Assembly to the maximum extent the courts will allow.
• Critical Issues. The next Virginia General Assembly will decide upon a wide range of important pending issues.
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