Predictions led many to believe Republican Ed Gillespie would have an easy victory in yesterday’s election for the GOP nomination for Governor. And while he did win, it was by no means easy. His opponent Corey Stewart lost by just a few thousand votes.
When asked whether he’s going to support his party’s candidate for Governor, Corey Stewart says:
“The more important question is whether Ed Gillespie is going to support my supporters.”
Stewart, the former co-chair of Donald Trump’s Virginia campaign, ran on a platform of protecting Confederate monuments, and cracking down on illegal immigration. Tuesday, he got more than 150,000 votes.
“Should be a warning signal to the establishment that they need to start listening to the Grassroots, they need to start listening to the people,” Stewart says. “And that the people want a fighter'.”
But Republican party chair John Whitbeck says Gillespie, a lobbyist and former Republican National Committee chair, has no plans to change tact.
“Nothing’s going to change about his message,” Witbeck says. “He’s focused on turning around Virginia’s economy, cutting the red tape, reforming education, putting more money in the pockets of Virginia families.”
He’ll get the chance to deliver that message, and sway Stewart voters, between now and November.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
