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A Virginia Republican congressman who angered social conservatives in his district when he officiated a gay wedding has lost his partys nomination.

Representative Denver Riggleman lost on Saturday in a party convention which was carried out as a drive-thru because of the coronavirus pandemic. He was defeated by Bob Good, a former official in the athletics department at the evangelical Liberty University.

Riggleman, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, upset many Republicans in his district last summer when he officiated the wedding of two male campaign aides.

Donald Trump endorsed him, as did Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. But Good is now the Republican nominee for Virginias fifth district. Four Democrats are vying to challenge him in the fall, with the winner picked later this summer.

Good has pledged to restore Judeo-Christian values to Congress, is a hardliner on immigration and wants English to be the official language of the US. His victory could make national Democrats and outside groups more likely to spend money in the district, which easily went for Trump in 2016.

Riggleman has said a small coterie of party insiders were trying to rig the contest against him, forcing the nomination to be decided with a convention instead of a primary. Conventions favor more conservative candidates and have been used for years by Virginia Republicans to block moderate Republicans from winning office.

The convention was held at a Lynchburg-area church near Goods home and was the only place delegates could cast a ballot in a district that stretches from northern Virginia to the North Carolina border.

While the convention ended at 7pm the vote tally was not announced until after 1am on Sunday. Good said he won 58% of the vote, news outlets reported, and district Republican chair Melvin Adams said 2,537 of more than 3,500 registered delegates voted.

Voting irregularities and ballot stuffing has been reported in multiple counties in the #VA05, Riggleman tweeted a little over an hour before results were announced.

Voter fraud has been a hallmark of this nomination process and I will not stand for it. The Virginia Republican party needs to re-evaluate their priorities. We are evaluating all our options at this time.

Thats what losers say, Good told reporters.

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Virginia Republican who officiated gay wedding loses nomination for Congress - The Guardian

A pickup truck decorated with conservative- and Trump-supporting bumper stickers sits at a Republican campaign event in 2018. On Saturday, conservative political analyst Shermichael Singleton wonders where he fits in that party. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

A pickup truck decorated with conservative- and Trump-supporting bumper stickers sits at a Republican campaign event in 2018. On Saturday, conservative political analyst Shermichael Singleton wonders where he fits in that party.

Shermichael Singleton isn't sure where he fits in the Republican Party anymore.

That didn't used to be the case. Singleton is an experienced conservative political analyst who has worked for plenty of prominent Republicans, including Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Ben Carson.

But as a black man, he says he has watched with grief and disappointment as the GOP and many of its supporters have struggled to grapple with the recent protests over racial injustice and policing in the U.S. under President Trump.

"It leaves me wondering: Why am I a Republican?" he said in an interview Saturday with NPR's Weekend Edition. "What is the Republican Party even attempting to conserve that I believe is consistent with my values as an American, with my values as an African American, with my values as a Christian? And unfortunately ... I hate to say this, but I don't know anymore."

For example, both before and after George Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police officers incited protests nationwide, Trump has made it clear that he supports and defends the Confederate memorials that have reemerged as flashpoints of controversy in the demonstrations.

Earlier this week, he vowed to block bipartisan congressional efforts to rename military bases that bear the names of Confederate generals, saying they stand for "a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom."

Here is how Singleton who has been a vocal critic of Trump explained how he came to feel he is in a "no-man's land," alongside "many right-leaning and conservative individuals who are slowly finding themselves in that same position."

What are your feelings right now, as a human being, as a black man in America?

I am gravely disappointed about this moment in time we find ourselves in. I often have been taught by my parents ... that despite our differences differences of race, that is that our hopes and dreams in this country have always been the same. And that is to be free and explore every opportunity and to do things that those before us weren't capable or able to do.

And it appears to me in this particular moment that there still remains a significant percent of people who are traveling on a road so far removed from where I think many of us are, that it's heartfelt, it makes me grieve, it makes me sad, it makes me confused. ...

But I still have hope. I have to have hope in this country, because I know that the country that my grandparents and my great-grandparents lived in is no more; there's still remnants. And so my hope is that this time, we can clear those remnants so that as we go forward, there will be no more. So that when I have children, they won't have to deal with or imagine the things that I am currently dealing with now not only as an African-American, but simply as as an American.

These things should stress us all out. They should give us all anxiety that we have not quite reached the pinnacle of what we are capable of reaching.

Has the Republican Party, which after all, founded in 1854 to expose the expansion of slavery, the party of [Abraham] Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Jackie Robinson, Sen. Edward Brooke, Colin Powell and you, how did they become the party that defends the Confederate flag?

Again, this just goes to the greatest disappointment that I have and I think a lot of people in the Republican Party have become so reactionary in their views.

To be a conservative doesn't necessarily mean that one wants to go backwards. To be a conservative is to understand that there are certain things that we have inherited that are good, that we must preserve as we move forward, because to move forward is an innate part of human nature.

But it is also to understand, Scott, that there are some bad things that we have inherited, such as the Confederacy, and that those are things that we should throw away, that we should discard, things that we recognize we cannot keep if we are to move forward in the right direction.

And it seems that the Republican Party under President Trump doesn't seem to recognize that. That is not conservative; that is reactionary. And I don't think we can tolerate those types of sentiments as we move forward. I just don't see how it's consistent with a country that's becoming so diverse demographically.

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'Why Am I A Republican?' Conservative Analyst Questions GOP's Response To Protests - NPR

We Republican state legislators have different ideas on policies and programs. We run the gamut from strictly adhering to the Republican platform, to viewing it as a guideline. There is, however, a commonality: we are there because we want to serve the state and make it the best place possible.

In 2013 legislative spending really ramped up. I then realized that there was no group to turn to or bounce ideas off to try and be stronger on the party platform. A group was formed in which legislators could associate and discuss policies within the framework of the platform. All legislators were invited. The name given to the loosely-affiliated group of legislators is the Bastiat Caucus.

Over the years, there has been occasional squabbling between the Bastiats and the non-Bastiats (I want to say moderates, but thats not fully accurate, since some conservative legislators simply prefer not to caucus with the group). Much like with siblings, that squabbling is entirely natural. Its even healthy, for how can we get to the best outcomes if everyone simply agrees without challenge or discourse?

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Enter Gov. Doug Burgum, and witness that the referenced family squabbling isnt what took place in the June primary. In 2016 Burgum did not receive the Republican party endorsement, nevertheless he ran in the primary election as was his right to do. What I didnt realize, was that his decision to break from party protocol was but a glimpse into his view of North Dakota politics.

He claimed he wanted to break up the good ol boys club in Bismarck, (which sounds good if one believes that a group of elected bureaucrats arent doing right by the citizens of the state), but it turns out Burgum wasnt looking to do that. He was simply intending to take complete control. The good ol boys he was referring to was anyone who doesnt conform to what he wants.

Burgum thinks of himself as CEO of North Dakota. The upside is he might be more likely to look for efficiencies of government, and to think outside the box. The downside, and what became clear in this election, is that he has no regard for the importance of the separation of powers, or his limited role as the executive. He has no respect for the process by which local people ought to be able to choose their representatives without intense manipulation by the executive. The root of the problem is that a CEO often confuses himself as king.

Sadly, through his PAC, Burgum dragged us through the mud with severe negativity and a daily bombardment of ugly mailers. He has shown that he cares nothing for the political process in general, and much less for his own party. He is a Republican by convenience only. North Dakota deserved better.

Becker, R-Bismarck, serves in the North Dakota House of Representatives.

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Becker: Burgum is a Republican by convenience only - Grand Forks Herald

Republicans expect to move their national convention from Charlotte, N.C., to Jacksonville, Fla., a shift planned after President Trump told officials in North Carolina that he did not want to use social distancing measures aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus, according to three senior Republicans.

The decision could change, the Republicans cautioned, but as of now, officials are on track to announce the new location as early as Thursday.

Jacksonville has been Republicans top choice for days, after Mr. Trump told the governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, a Democrat, that he needed an answer about whether Charlotte could accommodate the convention in August with a promise that there would not be social distancing.

Jacksonville is the most populous city in Florida, where Ron DeSantis, a Republican and an ally of Mr. Trump, is the governor. Jacksonvilles mayor, Lenny Curry, is a longtime Republican official.

Once they decided to uproot the convention, Mr. Trumps aides and Republican officials had wanted to relocate to a state, and a city, controlled by Republicans. Jacksonville also may have enough hotel rooms to accommodate the gathering, people familiar with the discussions said, and it is a comparatively easy drive from Charlotte.

New reported cases of the coronavirus are on the rise in both North Carolina and Florida.

What exactly the event will look like remains unclear. Conventions normally last for four days, with thousands of party officials, delegates, donors, members of the news media and others coming together for speeches and votes.

Aides to Mr. Curry declined to comment.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, Joe Gruters, said, While no final decision has been made by the RNC we understand Jacksonville is a frontrunner. This certainly has been generating a lot of attention and excitement. We continue to believe that Florida would be the best place for the convention.

Officials have said some party business will still be conducted in North Carolina, even with the move, but that the presidents nomination will be celebrated at the new site. Whether any additional business is conducted there remains to be seen.

One idea being discussed is to have the first lady speak on Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence deliver a speech accepting his nomination on Wednesday, and Mr. Trump deliver his acceptance speech on Thursday, a person familiar with the discussions said.

But it remains unclear whether there will be the typical slate of floor speeches from Republicans looking to get attention for their own political futures. Under Mr. Trump, the party has increasingly functioned as a reflection of his desires.

The president is also set to return to the campaign trail on June 19 with a rally in Tulsa, Okla., for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak forced most of the country into quarantine, a campaign official said Wednesday. There are unlikely to be any social distancing measures, or a requirement to wear masks.

Some of the partys business that is typically handled at its national nominating convention was taken care of remotely on Wednesday. The Republican National Committee notified members that its executive committee had voted unanimously to adopt the 2016 rules and platform for 2020, a reflection of concerns about whatever business is conducted in Charlotte being done by a small number of people.

The presidents son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, had been working to make changes to the platform to remove some of the language about gay rights, such as opposition to same-sex marriage, which will now remain in the platform. The platform in 2016 also weakened the partys position on support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Mr. Cooper had repeatedly told Mr. Trump that it was too early to make any promises about social distancing, and state health officials said the R.N.C. and the host committee in Charlotte had not provided a requested plan for safely holding the event.

Jacksonville is among the dozens of cities and towns where protesters have called for changes in the treatment of black people by law enforcement. On Tuesday, Mr. Curry walked with protesters who were demonstrating outside City Hall. Early Tuesday morning, city officials took down a confederate statue there.

Party conventions are often the focus of protests, and an event in Jacksonville is unlikely to be an exception.

Its a little too early right now to plan, but I can guarantee youre going to see some protesting, said Isaiah Rumlin, the president of the Jacksonville branch of the N.A.A.C.P.

This is a bad time for the president to think of coming here to host the R.N.C., Mr. Rumlin said, citing the ongoing fight to contain the spread of the coronavirus and the protests across the country against police brutality and systemic racism.

With Trump coming here, its just going to be another major problem here in this city, Mr. Rumlin said. He should not be coming here. He should be working this out in Charlotte.

Mr. Rumlin noted that Jacksonville residents had been holding their own demonstrations for weeks, and that there have been multiple controversies in the city over police shootings.

All of this is going to come into play with the rhetoric the president is going to bring to Jacksonville, he said.

Original post:
Republicans Weighing New Convention Options as They Eye Move to Jacksonville - The New York Times

I didnt grow up in that political pipeline, he said. I think I scare the hell out of people because I just say, 'Hey, thats corrupt. Dont do that.'"

The convention, initially set for April 25, was moved due to the coronavirus pandemic. Melvin Adams, the chairman of the 5th Districts committee, pushed back against claims the process was engineered to disadvantage any candidate.

"My responsibility is not to any campaign," he said, stressing that there is no rule against committee members working for campaigns. "It is to the party, our party plan, which is essentially a bible for our party that guides us. It's the rulebook. I can't make things up as I go. I don't care how bad campaigns want me to.

Good is projecting confidence in his prospects, declaring last month that he has support from 62 percent of the delegates to the convention, a claim that Riggleman refutes.

The road to Saturdays convention began in July 2019, when Riggleman officiated the wedding of two men who had volunteered for his campaign. His wife posted a picture of the wedding on her Facebook page.

Several GOP county committees in the district later voted to censure the congressman. The 5th District committee also debated a censure motion, but it did not pass. Good entered the race last September and has said he was recruited by Republicans in the district.

The vote will be a signal about whether socially conservative positions out of step with the majority of Americans are still considered wedge issues for GOP voters. But Good, who stepped down from the Liberty University athletic department to run, has said his opposition to Riggleman extends beyond his willingness to officiate a gay marriage.

What does Denver stand for? Good said in a radio debate between the two candidates last month. What conservative Republican issue is he strong on? What can you point to? Hes out of step with the base of the party on life. Hes out of step on marriage. Hes out of step on immigration. Hes out of step on health care, on climate, on drug legalization.

Good and his campaign did not respond to multiple requests for an interview for this story. His campaign told a Lynchburg TV station that the candidate "will not be taking interviews this week as we prepare for Saturday's convention."

Rigglemans quick rise to Congress gave him little opportunity to cultivate relationships with power players in his district. Former Rep. Tom Garrett (R-Va.) decided to retire in 2018 after securing renomination amid claims that he treated members of his congressional staff like servants. Garrett, who only served one term, cited an ongoing problem with alcoholism.

The 5th District committee chose Riggleman to replace Garrett on the ballot, and he won election in November by 7 points, beating Leslie Cockburn, an author and the mother of actress Olivia Wilde. Garrett has endorsed Good as has former Rep. Virgil Goode, who held the district until he was ousted by Democrat Tom Perriello in 2008.

Despite his prominent opponents, Riggleman has a powerful ally in Jerry Falwell Jr., the president of Liberty University and Goods former employer.

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I really think the people who are opposing him over social issues are misguided, Falwell said in a brief interview with POLITICO. The Supreme Court, not Congress, he said, makes decisions pertaining to the legality of marriage.

Hes a congressman whos proven he can win, he said. Hes already done it once, and hes a successful businessman and I cant say that about his opponent in any way, shape or form.

President Donald Trump, who also backed Riggleman in December and has touted the undefeated record of his endorsed candidates in GOP primaries this year, won the district by 11 points in 2016. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee placed the district on its target list.

Cockburn is not running again, but there is a contested Democratic primary, which will be held on June 23. Top contenders include physician Cameron Webb, Marine veteran RD Huffstetler, who ran for the seat in 2018, and Claire Russo, another Marine veteran backed by EMILYs List.

Part of Rigglemans pitch is that he will be a stronger contender to hold the seat in November. Good has not proven to be a prolific fundraiser. He had raised less than $200,000 as of late May.

But privately some Republicans fear whoever secures the nomination will need outside help to hold the seat. Good is relatively unknown and will need to introduce himself to the district beyond the several thousand delegates. If Riggleman wins, he will have to quickly refill his coffers and try to unite a divided party.

Whether Denver wins or loses, national Republicans are going to have to spend money to retain the seat," said one longtime GOP operative in the state. "And they shouldn't have to."

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The Republican congressman who could get booted for officiating a gay wedding - POLITICO