Tuesday is Primary Day in Virginia

Tuesday, June 11, 2013, is Primary Day in Virginia. Voting takes place at your regular polling place between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Identification will be required, just as last year's November General Election. Changes to the law related to photo ID requirements to vote will not be effective until July 2014.

For Democrats, Tuesday is the opportunity to vote for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General candidates. The gubernatorial choice is already in place -- Terry McAuliffe -- because no one stepped up to challenge him.

That leaves two choices for lieutenant governor: State Senator Ralph Northam (D-6th Senate District) and Aneesh Chopra who is a techie guy out of the Obama administration.

Also two choices for attorney general: State Senator Mark Herring (D-33rd Senate District), and former federal prosecutor Justin Fairfax.

If you're a Republican, the Top Three candidates were chosen for you at the recent Republican Party of Virginia convention in Richmond: Ken Cuccinelli for Governor, E.W. Jackson for Lieutenant Governor, and Mark Obenshain for Attorney General.

Republicans have eight contested House of Delegates races:
- 15th District: Incumbent Todd Gilbert versus Mark Prince
- 16th District - Open Seat: Les Adams versus Ken Bowman
- 28th District: Incumbent Speaker of the House Bill Howell versus Craig Ennis
- 29th District: Incumbent Beverly Sherwood versus Mark Berg
- 33rd District: Incumbent Joe May versus David LaRock
- 54th District: Incumbent Bobby Orrock versus Dustin Curtis
- 6th District: Jeffrey Campbell versus Jack Weaver
- 85th District: Scott Taylor vs Gary Byler vs Jeremy Waters

Democrats have three contested House of Delegates races:
- 63rd District: Evandra Thompson versus Rosalyn Dance
- 86th District: Jennifer Boysko versus Herbert Kemp
- 90th District: Rick James versus Algie Howell, Jr.

For more information, check out the State Board of Elections website.

Christie appoints NJ Attorney General as temporary replacement for Lautenberg's seat

The Hill reported Thursday that NJ Governor Chris Christie has made his choice for a temporary replacement to the late Senator Frank Lautenberg's seat:

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Thursday appointed state Attorney General Jeff Chiesa (R) to fill deceased Sen. Frank Lautenberg's (D) seat until the upcoming October special election. In his announcement, which came three days following Lautenberg's passing, Christie said he believes Chiesa is "the best person for the job."

Read the entire article here.

Republican AG race: Rob Bell ... dedicated work horse

Delegate Rob Bell is on a mission. Intense, motivated, with a work ethic that rivals the best, he is all over the place these days as he asks for votes in the Republican Attorney General race that will culminate next Saturday at the Republican Convention in Richmond.

While all candidates are working hard to win the favor of voters in the closed convention setting, Bell goes a step beyond in something that is seldom seen in politics: he mails hand-written notes to people along the way. I've received them in the past. Others have, too.

Watch him. He will jot a name on a note pad and it's likely that person will receive a hand-written note thanking them for their hospitality whether it's a committee meeting, breakfast, someone who went out of their way to help, or whatever. When at an event, Rob shakes hands, introduces himself to new faces, engages in issue discussions, and keeps a pace that would shame the Energizer Bunny.

Someone else who wrote personal correspondence? President George H.W. Bush. Looks like Rob is keeping good company.