Congressional candidates forum to be held in Sperryville
A forum will be held in Sperryville at Reynolds Memorial Baptist Church on Feb. 24 to showcase many of the Republican candidates seeking the party’s nomination in the crowded May primary for Virginia’s newly redrawn 10th Congressional District to unseat Democratic incumbent Rep. Jennifer Wexton.
According to a news release issued Tuesday by the Rappahannock County Republican Committee, “9 or 10 candidates” are “expected to be represented at the event” — although it’s not clear who or how many of the candidates will present, versus sending a representative on their behalf.
Each candidate or campaign will speak for five minutes then the floor will open for audience questions. A meet and greet will be held afterward.
As of Tuesday, 12 Republican candidates are all vying for the party’s nomination in the 10th district. According to Ballotpedia, the candidates are: Loudoun County School Board member John Beatty; former Air Force officer Dave Beckworth; retired Navy captain Hung Cao; Oracle executive Mike Clancy; Manassas City Council member Theresa Coates Ellis; Alexandriabased pest exterminator Adam Gizinski; former Air Force member John Henly; Prince William County Supervisor Jeanine Lawson; Army veteran Paul Lott; businessman Caleb Max; real estate investment manager Brandon Michon; and former defense subcontractor Brooke Taylor.
Henly, Clancy and Coates Ellis all appeared at Reynolds last week, according to Republican Committee member Mark Anderson. “These candidates seemed willing to come down again, they like this area (who doesn't?). We hope to get most of the rest, or at least a campaign rep, to our forum” next week, he said in an email.
The new 10th district includes Rappahannock, central and western Prince William County, the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, all of Loudoun and Fauquier counties and a small portion of southwestern Fairfax County. The district is projected to lean Democratic, according to political forecaster FiveThirtyEight.