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| Virginia GOP drops plan for loyalty pledge, but maybe too late for some voters | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| RICHMOND — Virginia’s Republican Party on Saturday scrapped plans to use a party loyalty pledge in the state’s GOP presidential primary on March 1, although it might be too late to take it off ballots. | RICHMOND — Virginia’s Republican Party on Saturday scrapped plans to use a party loyalty pledge in the state’s GOP presidential primary on March 1, although it might be too late to take it off ballots. |
| “We unanimously voted to rescind it,” John Whitbeck, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, said after a meeting of the State Central Committee. | “We unanimously voted to rescind it,” John Whitbeck, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, said after a meeting of the State Central Committee. |
| In September, the party decided to require voters to sign a “statement of intent” before taking part in the primary. | In September, the party decided to require voters to sign a “statement of intent” before taking part in the primary. |
| That idea, which has been proposed several times in recent years, caused controversy in Virginia, one of about 14 states that hold “open primary” elections in which voters do not register by party. Supporters have said the measure would cut down on Democratic mischief-makers who want to meddle in GOP primaries. | That idea, which has been proposed several times in recent years, caused controversy in Virginia, one of about 14 states that hold “open primary” elections in which voters do not register by party. Supporters have said the measure would cut down on Democratic mischief-makers who want to meddle in GOP primaries. |
| GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump drew national attention to the pledge by calling it a “suicidal mistake” that would turn away voters disenchanted with traditional party politics — the very newcomers who might be drawn to his unconventional presidential bid. | GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump drew national attention to the pledge by calling it a “suicidal mistake” that would turn away voters disenchanted with traditional party politics — the very newcomers who might be drawn to his unconventional presidential bid. |
| [Trump objections to Virginia voter pledge stirs divisions in state GOP] | [Trump objections to Virginia voter pledge stirs divisions in state GOP] |
| His supporters filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Virginia on behalf of three pastors who support Trump. Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled against them. | His supporters filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Virginia on behalf of three pastors who support Trump. Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled against them. |
| [Federal judge rules in favor of GOP loyalty oath in Virginia] | [Federal judge rules in favor of GOP loyalty oath in Virginia] |
| The State Central Committee’s move gives Trump supporters what they were asking for — but perhaps too late, because the state Board of Elections has already printed at least some ballots. | The State Central Committee’s move gives Trump supporters what they were asking for — but perhaps too late, because the state Board of Elections has already printed at least some ballots. |
| “They’ve already printed the absentee ballots,” said Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large), chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and of Trump’s Virginia campaign. | “They’ve already printed the absentee ballots,” said Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large), chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and of Trump’s Virginia campaign. |
| He said it will be up to the state Board of Elections to decide whether there is time for the pledge to come off of absentee ballots and March 1 ballots. | He said it will be up to the state Board of Elections to decide whether there is time for the pledge to come off of absentee ballots and March 1 ballots. |
| “I think it was a good move on the State Central Committee’s behalf, and it does show that they listened to the concerns that the Trump campaign members had made about the pledge,” he said. “The state Board of Elections has to vote on it now.” | “I think it was a good move on the State Central Committee’s behalf, and it does show that they listened to the concerns that the Trump campaign members had made about the pledge,” he said. “The state Board of Elections has to vote on it now.” |
| The move also drew praise from Sen. J. Chapman “Chap” Petersen (D-Fairfax), who has introduced legislation this year to ban loyalty oaths for both parties. His bill comes before a Senate committee Tuesday. | The move also drew praise from Sen. J. Chapman “Chap” Petersen (D-Fairfax), who has introduced legislation this year to ban loyalty oaths for both parties. His bill comes before a Senate committee Tuesday. |
| “Having a loyalty oath was a bad idea from the beginning,” he said. “This is a bipartisan problem.” | “Having a loyalty oath was a bad idea from the beginning,” he said. “This is a bipartisan problem.” |