Knight wins against LaCombe in the 81st
By Joel McDonald • Jan 7th, 2009 • Category: Blog, Campaigns & Elections
While it would have been fantastic to start out the new year with a Democratic win in the special election that took place yesterday in Virginia’s 81st House district, voters chose to elect Republican Barry Knight over the Democratic nominee, John LaCombe, to represent them in the Virginia House of Delegates.
About 6% of eligible voters voted in favor of Barry Knight by a margin of 66 points.
In an e-mail Tuesday night, LaCombe said: “I chose to run because the people deserve a voice, a chance to make a choice, especially in times so vicious to the working class. I regret nothing, and I congratulate Mr. Knight.” (Virginian-Pilot)
Prior to running for delegate, LaCombe fought for stronger regulations on pay day lenders, founded CapAmerica and brought lending victims to legislatures to show the financial ruin that was being caused by the lack of regulation. He built his campaign for delegate outside of the local party and then reached out to the party for the nomination. He campaigned tirelessly, not only focusing on reaching out personally to voters, but also making himself available to traditional and new media. He stood firmly on his principles as he responded to the current events within the state, clearly expressing his disapproval of proposed cuts to education and the closure of the Southeastern Virginia Training Center. He also received endorsements from Terry McAuliffe, Brian Moran, Creigh Deeds, and the Virginia National Organization for Women PAC. His candidacy and campaign garnered statewide and national attention.
Not bad for a candidate whom I overheard being derided as “just a waiter at Applebee’s” by an attendee of last evening’s Deed’s reception or as “not really a candidate” in a comment over at Bearing Drift.
Congratulations to Barry Knight on his victory. Congratulations to John LaCombe for standing up to be the Democratic nominee in this race and, hopefully, ending the era of unopposed races in the 81st district.
Knight will complete the term of Terri Suite who resigned to becoming a lobbyist. He’ll be up for reelection in November. It seems to me that the organization needed to win this for the Democrats should start now.
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Joel McDonald has been following Virginia politics since February 2008, starting with the Democratic Presidential Primary. Since then, he has been the primary new media contact for progressive district and statewide campaigns.
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I think part of the reason John LaCombe lost last night, and the reason why there will not be many Democratic gains in Hampton Roads in the future is the lack of support structure in the Democratic Party locally.
“just a waiter at Applebee’s” ….
“not really a candidate”….
This is why sometimes I am ashamed to be a Democrat. We sometimes complain about the Republicans being elitist but every time one of our own grows some testicular fortitude, we pick out all their faults and attack them behind the scenes. Why is it that the “party of inclusion” can take money from average people ( including younger ones) and the second they choose to get involved in the political process we cut down at the knee caps because it is politically convenient? This was a candidate who did things that were not politically convenient, but morally right. If the Democratic Party in Hampton Roads is to thrive it must embrace the young and their ideas instead of clenching on to the old past.
E,
I totally agree with you. Both you and I know the handicap that LaCombe was faced with; and it had nothing to do with his age and current occupation. I admire LaCombe for starting his campaign from outside the party, and then asking for and gaining the nomination. The support structure isn’t there, and he may have actually had a more difficult time had he not done things this way.
There needs to be an infusion of youth and the building of a more inclusive party. I’m excited to get more involved locally. Hopefully I can bring some others along with me.
Thanks for your comment, your work, and support for John LaCombe.
It is kind of ironic that as Democrats, and as a country, we elected a President whose campaign was all about change, but at the local level it scares the party to death. If you don’t encourage youth activism your party will die. This Commonwealth elected a Lt Governor once who dealt with used cars. There were Delegates who were High School teachers with no political experience. The idea that someone must wait to earn a certain level of stature before seeking office is mind blowing. It’s always easy to sit on the sidelines and complain. The one’s I have respect for are the men and women who face all odds and uncertainty to stand up and fight for they believe in. At least, win or lose, they did something.