The Republican ticket. From left: Mark Obenshain (attorney general), Ken Cuccinelli (governor), E.W. Jackson (lieutenant governor). Photo by Kyle Green, The Roanoke Times.

So, the big news out of the weekend’s Republican convention was the surprise nomination of E.W. Jackson, a Chesapeake attorney and minister, for lieutenant governor. That the party tilted to the right wasn’t a surprise, especially in a convention setting. Any of the other likely GOP candidates would have been pretty conservative, too. But the selection of the little-known Jackson — a Tea Party favorite who topped various Republican office-holders — was the surprise.

I’ve put on my historian’s hat and here are three questions that come to mind:

* What’s the right historical parallel here for Jackson’s nomination? Thrice before, major parties in Virginia have nominated African-Americans for statewide office (although, it should be noted, Jackson disdains that designation.) Is this more analagous to the Democrats fielding Doug Wilder for lieutenant governor in 1985 (let’s set aside his gubernatorial campaign in 1989; by then he was already a statewide office-holder) or the Republicans nominating Maurice Dawkins for the U.S. Senate in 1988?

If those are the only choices, neither quite fits. Dawkins, like Jackson, was little-known to the general public in 1988; but he also was going up against Chuck Robb, at the height of his popularity. We don’t know yet who Jackson’s Democratic opponent will be but, to borrow a phrase, whoever it is, he won’t be any Chuck Robb. In that regard, Jackson might come closer to the Wilder example, who was clearly the weakest of the three Democratic candidates in 1985 but prevailed when his ticket-mates swept into office in what was a good year for his party. One key difference, of course: Wilder was well-known from years of service in the General Assembly, Jackson isn’t. So neither of those parallels are quite parallel, after all.

Two better historical examples might be two white Republican candidates for lieutenant governor — Mike Farris in 1993 and John Hager in 1997. Farris, known as a home-schooling advocate, was the favorite of the GOP convention that year. Democrats successfully portrayed him as too extreme, and he lost in what was otherwise a good year for Republicans (George Allen was elected governor and Jim Gilmore was elected attorney general that year.) Will Democrats be able to make Jackson out as this year’s version of Mike Farris? Or will Jackson be more like Hager? Hager was never considered as far to the right as Jackson apparently is, but he was considered by many to be a weak candidate in 1997, a sure loser to Democrat L.F. Payne, at the time the congressman representing much of Southside Virginia. Except that . . . Gilmore swept to victory as governor, and pulled Hager in with him. Could a big Cuccinelli victory this fall pull in Jackson, too?

Of course, maybe there is no historical parallel. So let’s move on to some other questions:

* Will Jackson’s nomination influence who the Democrats nominate? More to the point, will Democrats now be more inclined to nominate a minority on their ticket — either former technology secretary Aneesh Chopra for lieutenant governor (instead of Norfolk state Sen. Ralph Northam), or former federal prosecutor Justin Fairfax for attorney general (instead of Loudoun County state Sen. Mark Herring)? Given that the Democrats are holding a primary, the short answer is probably “no.” This isn’t a situation where party leaders can get together, figure out a answer, and then send down the word. Primaries don’t work that way; (sometimes conventions don’t, either!). It would be ironic, though, in a historical way if the Republicans wound up nominating a more diverse ticket than the Democrats.

(And since this is the Blue Ridge Caucus blog, let’s make a geographical note, as well: Republicans have nominated a ticket with candidates from Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the Shenandoah Valley; Democrats are certain to have two candidates from Northern Virginia — Terry McAuliffe and both of the AG candidates live there; and if Chopra defeats Northam, then all three Democrats could be from just one part of the state.)

And finally:

* Democrats hope that Jackson’s nomination will underscore how out of the mainstream they believe the Republican ticket it — and serve as the deadweight that brings it down. However, could just the opposite happen? Could it be that Jackson helps make his ticket-mates look more moderate? Republicans have shown no interest in distancing themselves from Jackson — although the Washington Post quoted one over the weekend as saying they now had to go research their own candidate to find out just who they had nominated. Perhaps Jackson will turn out to be a fine candidate, one who brings energy and excitement to the ticket in a way Republicans could not have imagined. And there’s always the chance his Democratic opponent, whoever he is, turns out to be a dud. But, for the sake of discussion, let’s assume Jackson doesn’t work out, that voters come to see him as too extreme. Does that necessarily hurt his ticketmates? Mike Farris didn’t appear to drag down George Allen in 1993. Might any contrast actually help Cuccinelli?

– Dwayne Yancey

There sure was a lot of talk about Washington when the newly-minted GOP swung by Roanoke Regional Airport today. midway through a three-day statewide tour. (The story is here.)

Besides the candidates, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County, and Republican party chair Pat Mullins also reminded the Republican-leaning crowd that Virginia could send a strong signal to the rest of the nation by voting for the ticket.

“We want a governor who stands up for Virginia not a governor who stands up for Washington, D.C.,” Mullins said.

Chatting just before boarding his plane to his next stop, Cuccinelli said Virginia’s gubernatorial race, always held the first year after a presidential election is often considered the first test of how a president is doing.

He said he expects that will be on the minds of campaign volunteers in the five months ahead as they work to win votes for their candidates.

Ken Cuccinelli will lead a GOP ticket that includes E.W. Jackson for lieutenant governor and Mark Obenshain for Attorney General. The story is here.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says he’s not subject to FOIA. The story is here.

The latest outside group to weigh in with its own efforts to back – or urge rejection – of Virginia candidates is Middle Resolution Political Action Committee.

It today reports making just under $2,000 worth of phone calls on behalf of Corey Stewart’s campaign to win the GOP nomination for lieutenant government and state Sen. Mark Obenshain’s bid for the party nod to be its candidate for attorney general, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. The party will pick its candidates at a Richmond convention this weekend.

This sort of independent expenditure, made without coordinating with a campaign, has to be reported within 24 hours, under state law.

Middle Resolution is mainly backed by some big name Richmond businessmen, including Robert Bailie, who ran an insulation distribution business, Frank Bradley, who ran the Fas Mart convenience store chain and retired executives from Universal Tobacco and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

So far this year, by the way, the $135,000 of independent expenditures reported for this year’s state election the split is $124,000 for Republican candidates and $10,000 the Firefighters’ PAC spent on T-shirts and signs for Terry McAuliffe.

On immigration, bi-partisanship in the Senate, and now in the House: a group of four Republicans and four Democrats led by Reps. John Carter, R-Texas, and Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., say they’ve reached agreement on a comprehensive package.

While Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County, who’s got a big voice in the issue as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has repeatedly said he favors a more deliberate, step-by-step approach, he encouraged the House group to keep working on a proposal.

He’s introduced two standalone bills, one on electronic verification of employment status and one on seasonal workers, and said Friday he expects more bills tackling specific bills in the coming days.

Details of the House group’s proposal are still pretty sketchy, but Bloomberg News reports it includes a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, though with a 15-year process that is longer than either pending Senate or White House suggestions.

Goodlatte has said he doesn’t like the idea of allowing people who have come illegally to gain citizenship, although he does think there are some who ought to have a chance to gain the right to stay permanently.

Monday May 20 is the last day to register if you’d like to the vote in the Democratic Party primary.

Aneesh Chopra, former (and first) Chief Technology Officer of the United States, and state Sen. Raplh Northam, D-Norfolk are running for lieutenant governor.

Former federal prosecutor Justin Fairfax and state Sen. Mark Herring, D-Leesburg, are running for attorney general.

The GOP is selecting its candidates at a convention this weekend.

The parties’ gubernatorial candidates are Terry McAuliffe for the Democrats and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli for the Republicans. Neither has a challenger.

Americans for Prosperity, a national conservative group that focuses on cutting taxes and regulation, is opening a regional office at Keagy Village in Roanoke County. Colleague Amanda Codispoti has the scoop here.

The group is led by President Ronald Reagan’s chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, James Miller. Oilman David Koch was a cofounder of the  group that preceded Americans for Prosperity and he and his brother have been supporters.

Update 2 p.m.: Americans for Prosperity was cited in today’s front page story as an example of an “election-influencing” political group granted 501(c)4 status by the IRS. This same nonprofit status has been sought by various tea party groups that have complained of targeted harassment by the IRS.

501(c)4 status “allows the groups to raise money from donors and get involved in politics, as long as that’s not their primary activity. Importantly, the donors are not disclosed publicly,” according to the McClatchy story.

Update 2:30 p.m. Americans for Prosperity’s Virginia director Dave Schwartz says the group hopes to step up its advocacy work in southwest Virginia, and in particular expects to speak out on coal and other energy issues, as well as taxes and regulation generally, during the election campaign and after the convening of the next General Assembly session.

Western Virginia’s three congressman — Bob Goodlatte, Morgan Griffith, Robert Hurt, all Republicans — today all voted in favor of repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka “Obamacare.”

Here’s what each had to say about it:

Rep. Bob Goodlatte

From Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County:

Ever since President Obama was first elected and chose to push through a federal takeover of America’s health care system, House conservatives have led the charge to repeal the law commonly known as Obamacare and replace it with true reforms that will increase access and lower costs for consumers. With a string of broken promises from its authors and prominent backers, this law has already forced people off of the insurance they previously had, has increased premiums by thousands of dollars, and has reduced work hours for millions.

The fundamental question facing uninsured Americans was never, “how do we give the federal government more power over our lives?” Yet government control over health care was what the Democrat majority provided. House Republicans offered alternatives that gave our constituents the peace of mind to know that a safety net would be in place for the least fortunate amongst us, and provided commonsense reforms to allow those uninsured or underinsured to get the insurance they needed at an affordable price. Unfortunately, what we got was a law that, as former Speaker Pelosi famously stated, “we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.” Well, we’ve read the bill, and the tens of thousands of pages of regulations to enforce it, and I can tell you the backlash and opposition to the law continues to mount.

One small example of the absurdity of this law is provided by a constituent of mine who lives in Virginia. This small business owner has chosen to insure his employees for the last forty years, helping his employees afford the insurance they need to keep their families healthy. Because of Obamacare, this company is required to spend more than $30,000 to reenroll their current employees. Let me repeat that. Even though these employees already have health insurance, the company is required to pay a fee for each and every one of them, to enroll the employee back into the exact same plan. That $30,000, which could have been used to hire new workers or grow the local economy, will now be sent to bureaucrats in Washington. Instead of health insurance for Main Street, this appears to be health insurance for K Street.

Today the House has a chance to stop growing the size of government, and to give power and freedom back to the American people. Instead of propping up health care exchanges, bureaucratic IPAB rationing panels, and mandates which cost Americans thousands of dollars each year, let’s start over and focus on the real needs of access to care and reduced costs of insurance. We can all admit that our health insurance system can use strengthening, but this is not the way to do it. If you are serious about reforming the health insurance system in this country, then join me in voting to repeal Obamacare and send a message to the American people that we have heard their anger and outrage over this law and we will do what it takes to see it repealed.

Rep. Morgan Griffith

From Morgan Griffith, R-Salem:

“However you feel about the philosophy of Obamacare, what has become increasingly clear is that it was not built carefully enough to work. Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is infamous for having said that Congress had ‘to pass the bill so you can find out what’s in it.’

“Well, they passed it. We now know what’s in it, and the American people don’t like it. So far, what the President promised hasn’t come true.

“President Obama promised in a speech before Congress that his health care proposal would not add to the national deficit, but the Government Accountability Office estimated that it will add to the long-term deficit by $6.2 trillion.

“The Administration promised that premium rates would go down, but the Energy and Commerce Committee released a report just this week revealing that consumers’ premiums could spike as high as 400 percent. In Virginia, the small group market is projected to increase by 31 percent.

“CLASS, the law’s long-term care program, was determined to be financially unsustainable and has been suspended.

“Furthermore, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is now soliciting funds for the law’s implementation from the very same companies and groups that her agency is responsible for overseeing, because they underestimated the cost of implementation.

“Even with a stack of regulations taller than I am, the Administration cannot tell the American people what will happen with their health insurance in January when Obamacare is fully implemented. Why? Because the Administration still has more decisions to make, and more regulations to promulgate.

“Senator Max Baucus, one of the law’s main architects, recently described Obamacare as ‘a huge train wreck coming down.’

“We have a chance to save Americans from being casualties of the train wreck. We can yank them off the tracks. Today, my vote shows that I am doing what I can to do just that.

“I call on the United States Senate to join us in rescuing the American people from the tracks of health care destruction.”

Rep. Robert Hurt

From Robert Hurt, R-Chatham:

“At a time when the American peoples’ trust in the federal government is at all-time lows, the last thing we need is another federal program that expands its size and scope and further threatens individual freedoms. Not only does the President’s health care law overtly extend the federal government into the lives of all Americans by increasing premiums, raising taxes, and requiring all Americans to purchase health care – but it does so inadvertently as well by harming our small business owners and families by forcing employers to choose between providing coverage for their workers or – in many cases – closing their doors. A federal government takeover is the wrong way to go about true health care reform and I stand by House initiatives to repeal this misguided law and replace it with patient-centered solutions that will improve access to care without putting our small business owners out of business and causing 5th District Virginians to lose their employer-based coverage or their jobs.”

Cuccinelli talks coal as he unveils his energy plan. McAuliffe focuses on women’s health.

Bottom line: the two don’t seem to agree on these issues. The story is here.