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State Sen. Bryce Reeves to run for Va. lieutenant governor State Sen. Bryce Reeves to run for Va. lieutenant governor
(about 9 hours later)
RICHMOND — State Sen. Bryce Reeves, the leading Republican force behind a recent a gun deal with Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), will announce Monday that he is running for lieutenant governor in 2017. RICHMOND — State Sen. Bryce Reeves, the leading Republican force behind a recent a gun deal with Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), announced Monday that he is running for lieutenant governor in 2017.
Reeves, a Spotsylvania small businessman, former Army Ranger and former Prince William County narcotics detective, plans to announce his bid early Monday evening at the Virginia War Memorial, with several members of the legislature by his side. Reeves, a Spotsylvania small businessman, former Army Ranger and former Prince William County narcotics detective, announced his bid Monday evening at the Virginia War Memorial, with several members of the legislature by his side.
“Virginia deserves strong conservative leadership, and I plan to continue to bring just that to Richmond,” said Reeves, 49, in a statement. “I have proudly fought for all Virginians during my time in the Senate, whether it meant protecting their 2nd Amendment rights, standing up for the rights and proper treatment of our veterans and military families, or simply working to lower taxes and provide economic opportunity for everyday Virginians.” “Virginia deserves strong conservative leadership, and I plan to continue to bring just that to Richmond,” Reeves, 49, said in a statement. “I have proudly fought for all Virginians during my time in the Senate, whether it meant protecting their 2nd Amendment rights, standing up for the rights and proper treatment of our veterans and military families, or simply working to lower taxes and provide economic opportunity for everyday Virginians.”
[McAuliffe signs gun compromise into law][McAuliffe signs gun compromise into law]
The second-term senator faces competition from within his own Senate caucus. Over the weekend, Sen. Jill Vogel (R-Fauquier) surprised colleagues by telling the Richmond Times-Dispatch that she intends to run. The second-term senator rolled out a list of nearly 40 state senators and delegates who support his bid. He faces competition from within his own Senate caucus. Over the weekend, Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-Fauquier) surprised colleagues by telling the Richmond Times-Dispatch that she intends to run.
“I am going to run,” she later told The Washington Post. “Now is not the time for me to launch yet because we have session and races for 2016, but I am so grateful to have support from people around the commonwealth who have encouraged me to run.”“I am going to run,” she later told The Washington Post. “Now is not the time for me to launch yet because we have session and races for 2016, but I am so grateful to have support from people around the commonwealth who have encouraged me to run.”
Another potential contender is Pete Snyder, a Northern Virginia technology entrepreneur who ran for the job in 2013 but lost the Republican nomination that year to Chesapeake minister E.W. Jackson.Another potential contender is Pete Snyder, a Northern Virginia technology entrepreneur who ran for the job in 2013 but lost the Republican nomination that year to Chesapeake minister E.W. Jackson.
Virginia’s lieutenant governorship is a part-time job. Its only constitutional duty is to preside over the Senate and break tie votes. It has become a higher-profile position in recent years because the Senate has been closely divided between Republicans and Democrats, resulting in more ties to break. Virginia’s lieutenant governorship is a part-time job. The officeholder’s only constitutional duty is to preside over the Senate and break tie votes. It has become a higher-profile position in recent years because the Senate has been closely divided between Republicans and Democrats, resulting in more ties to break.
The post is often a stepping stone to higher office. The current occupant, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (D), is running for governor. The post is often a stepping stone to higher office. The current lieutenant governor, Ralph Northam (D), is running for governor in 2017 to succeed term-limited McAuliffe.
Reeves kicks off his run fresh off a victory that has endeared him to his party’s gun-rights advocates while also strengthening his reputation as someone who can bridge partisan divides.Reeves kicks off his run fresh off a victory that has endeared him to his party’s gun-rights advocates while also strengthening his reputation as someone who can bridge partisan divides.
Reeves recently brokered a compromise over guns with the McAuliffe administration. The resulting legislation greatly expands the right to carry concealed weapons in Virginia in exchange for voluntary background checks at gun shows and tougher restrictions on domestic abusers. He recently brokered a compromise over guns with the McAuliffe administration. The resulting legislation greatly expands the right to carry concealed weapons in Virginia in exchange for voluntary background checks at gun shows and tougher restrictions on domestic abusers.
“You can be a principled conservative and still get things done,” Reeves said at his announcement. “You don’t have to lob a grenade over the other side. . . . What you have to do is think tactically.”