Scott Taylor, the Independent turned Republican, has announced his campaign to run in the Republican primary in 2010 in a bid to unseat Representative Glenn Nye in 2010. Scott Taylor’s announcement makes four candidates who will be seeking the Republican nomination ; Chuck Smith, Scott Rigell, and Ben Loyala announced their campaigns earlier.

[Update: Addtionsl GOP candidates include Bert Mizusawa and Ed Maulbeck]

Taylor ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Virginia Beach in 2008 behind John Moss, Meyera Oberndorf, and Will Sessoms; gaining 10% of the vote, having raised over $80,000 from mainly small businesses and individuals. The mayoral race was Taylor’s first campaign. For a candidate new to politics, and someone battling three very well known candidates, he ran a good campaign and was a hard working candidate. To have gained 10% of the vote against an institution like Oberndorf is impressive in my view.

Taylor launched his bid for the mayor’s office as an Independent, but later joined the Republican Party in the midst of the campaign. The switch may have been motivated by the fact that Will Sessoms was pulling in donations and endorsements due to his Republican political affiliation. This may also indicate that Taylor is not steeped in partisan politics and may be a centrist candidate that moderates and Independents may find themselves supporting.

Currently, not much is known about Taylor’s positions on national issues; however, in a head-to-head match up against Glenn Nye, who was elected due to a combination of general disapproval of Thelma Drake, who formally held the 2nd district seat, and his credentials from his Foreign Service experience; Taylor would make for a strong opponent with his experience as a Navy Seal, owner of multiple and diverse business, lessons learned in his 2008 campaign, and his “everyman” background.

Representative Nye is a Republican target in the 2010 election, and whoever wins the Republican nomination is sure to have whatever resources are deemed necessary for a strong campaign to turn the 2nd district red. Nye may also face a difficult campaign if the mood of Democratic activists, who have been vocal about their dismay over Nye’s more conservative votes, doesn’t shift to his favor.

Related posts:

1. Bill Fleming Running Grassroots Campaign for the 8th Senate District
2. Peter Schmidt launches campaign in Virginia Beach
3. Recount in the 21st District will be December 14th
4. Oberndorf and Sessoms make joint endorsement of Jody Wagner for Lt. Governor
5. Out of nowhere, Bowerbank launches an ad