Who Is Corey Stewart? GOP Firebrand Complicates Senate Race in Virginia

Last week, Virginia Republicans nominated Corey Stewart for U.S. Senate to take on incumbent Democrat Tim Kaine in the fall. Stewart narrowly edged out state Delegate Nick Freitas, an Army veteran, with 45 percent to Freitas’ 43 percent — a margin of 5,000 votes. Bishop E.W. Jackson, the 2013 Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, placed third with 12 percent. Stewart, the Chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors in the outer suburbs of Washington, D.C., has been running for statewide office virtually nonstop since 2013. He finished third of seven candidates at a convention in 2013, and lost

Near-Upset in Virginia as GOP Primary Ends in Photo Finish

Politics is never boring in Virginia — a battleground state which is one of just two states that has elections every year — and last night’s primaries were no exception. (For some background on the races, read our preview from March.) Ed Gillespie narrowly defeated Corey Stewart to secure the Republican nomination for governor. Gillespie, former chairman of the Republican National Committee and Counselor to the President under George W. Bush, defeated Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors and hardcore Donald Trump loyalist, by a razor-thin margin of 1.2 percent. It was a surprisingly close

Can This Pro-Trump Candidate Pull Off an Upset Tomorrow?

A new poll out in Virginia shows that tomorrow’s gubernatorial primary election may be a lot closer than many originally predicted. Previous polling showed establishment favorite, former RNC chairman and unsuccessful 2014 Senate candidate Ed Gillespie, with a comfortable double digit lead over Prince William County supervisor — and outspoken Trump supporter — Corey Stewart. However, the new poll places Stewart ahead with 42 percent to Gillespie’s 41 percent among Republicans who say they will definitely vote. Stewart’s strength in this poll comes from his energized base and their likelihood to actually make the trip to their polling place. According to

Battleground 2017: A Rundown on This Year’s Biggest Elections

As I wrote last week, Virginia’s statewide elections this November will be a critical bellwether on how voters are feeling about Donald Trump, the Republican White House, and the Republican agenda. Democrats will pour millions of dollars into the race, seeking to test their message in a purple state before the 2018 midterm elections. Republicans will be looking for a stamp of approval of their first year in control that will fuel their attempts to build their U.S. Senate majority in 2018. Political observers will be watching Virginia very closely. Virginia was a red state for decades, but demographic changes