Virginia’s Board of Elections will not allow Republican Delegate Nick Freitas on the ballot this November. That decision came during a board meeting Tuesday.
Not only will Freitas not be allowed on the ballot in the 30th House District, but the board also won’t let the Republican Party nominate a different candidate.
Freitas currently represents the Republican-leaning district south of Culpeper in central Virginia. He, and the local GOP committee both missed paperwork filing deadlines with the Department of Elections.
The state Board of Elections decided during a meeting Tuesday not to forgive the error. Robert Brink is chairman of the board.
“The overwhelming majority of filers get their papers in on time. I think the Department goes the extra mile in helping filers comply,” said Brink. “But at the end of the day it’s the responsibility of the individual who is filing those papers to get those papers in on time.”
Unless Republicans file and win a lawsuit, Democrat Ann Ridgeway will now be unopposed on the ballot this November. Freitas has previously said he’ll run a write-in campaign.
The Board’s decision makes the normally safe GOP district vulnerable during an election year where every seat matters.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
