Attorney Paul Goldman Files Lawsuit to Halt 7-Day Crazy-Fast #VA04 Firehouse Primary
#VA07 — 🧯Richmond attorney Paul Goldman filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 16 to stop the super-rushed seven-day congressional firehouse special election primary election to fill the seat of A. Donald McEachin.
To review: The firehouse primary is to take place on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022 — the week of Christmas and on the third day of Hanukkah. There are currently eight polling locations to cast a vote for one of the four candidates who have filed. In a normal election there are 223. No one can remember a quicker election process for a congressional seat. (If anyone out there knows of one, please e-mail BlackVirginiaNews@gmail.com).
Congressman McEachin died on Nov. 28, 2022. On Dec. 12, 2022, after checking with the parties involved, Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued a writ of election declaring a special election for the 4th congressional district on Feb. 21, 2023.
🧯On Dec. 13, Democrats released the rules for their firehouse primary. Originally the primary was set for today, Saturday, Dec. 17. Then, this week there was a change to Tuesday, Dec. 20. Typically, firehouse primaries occur on Saturdays, though a specific date of the week is not required by law. State law for special elections leaves many decisions up to political parties. Below are a few pages from the complaint:
A look at the map of the voting locations… the approximate pin placement represents the eight voting locations for Dec. 20.
The candidates who have filed are seen at right in order of ballot listing. They are former Delegate Joe Preston, State Senator Jennifer McClellan, State Senator Joe Morrissey and former candidate for the House of Delegates and U.S. Army Officer Tavorise Marks.
Paul Goldman is an attorney based on Richmond. He is a fmr. chair of the Virginia Democratic Party and was campaign manager for the first Black Governor elected in the U.S. after reconstruction, L. Douglas Wilder.
More later…
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THANK YOU, Paul Goldman!