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RICHMOND Republicans have raised concerns about one of Gov. Terry McAuliffes picks for the State Board of Elections, saying the nominee chosen to represent the GOP on the panel has voted in recent Democratic primaries.

McAuliffe (D) last week nominated three people to serve on the three-member board, two Democrats and one Republican, in keeping with state law requiring the sitting governor to give one seat to the opposing party.

The Republican is Matthew Gray of Richmond, state director of the Humane Society of the United States.

Pat Mullins, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, wrote to McAuliffe this week objecting to the fact that the governor did not seek the GOPs input on the nomination.

Morgan Finkelstein, spokeswoman for the Democratic Party of Virginia, said no one could recall McAuliffes Republican predecessor consulting the party on his Democratic nominee.

But two Republicans close to the situation said privately that the bigger concern within the party is Grays participation in Democratic primaries something that bars him from being considered a Republican in good standing under state party rules. The two spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter.

Gray has worked for a variety of Republican organizations, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee between 2005 and 2007 and the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008.

Gray also spent four months in 2008 working as director of development for the Republican Party of Virginia.

But he has voted in Democratic primaries in 2009, 2013 and 2014, according to the Republican sources, who reviewed the partys voting records and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Gray declined to comment.

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Virginia GOP objects to McAuliffes Republican pick for elections board