PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — Bill Card is once again the Chairman of the Prince William County Republican Committee.
He took a two-year hiatus but returned to the seat in January when Dottie Miller completed year term.
Card returns to a county that is now solidly blue. Gone are the days when pundits and reporters used to guess which party would win Prince William. And with it, the days of the county being at the center of national media focus for its bellwether status.
Last year, Gov. Ralph S. Northam won Prince William County and the state with 53% of the vote. That’s the same number statewide votes that President Obama received in 2008 and 2% fewer than Obama got in 2012.
With the federal mid-term elections this fall and both House and Senate seats in play, Card, however, is not discouraged and he believes Republicans have a shot at turning out Republicans to vote despite claims from Democrats of the coming “blue wave” backlash to be brought on by the reaction to President Trump.
“The county is getting better and better every day. If people focus on the results of Republican values rather than the personality of Republican values we will all benefit,” said Card.
He points to tax reform ushered in by the president earlier this year, and last year’s appointment of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch as the early success of the president.
Card is also touting the accomplishments of long-serving Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va. 1) who continues to be reelected to serve a district that spans Prince William south-east to near Williamsburg.
There’s also Jeff Dove, the candidate who’s running to unseat Democrat Congressman Gerry Connolly (D, 11-Fairfax, Prince William) who’s been in office since 2008. Card touts Dove’s military experience and calls him uniquely qualified to run.
“I’m honored to be the Republican Nominee for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District,” said Jeff Dove. “Our campaign is already making concrete steps to further spread our common sense message to all of the voters in the district. While I was in the military, no matter what the circumstances, we had to achieve our mission. Unfortunately, Congress and Rep. Gerry Connolly routinely fail their missions and provide the same old excuses. As the representative for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, I will tirelessly work to achieve the mission and be accountable to the voters, not special interest groups. I will represent the district, not Washington DC,”Dove penned in a press release.
Connolly did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Virginia’s Senate race, a seat held today by Democrat Tim Kaine against, is pitting Republicans Nick Freitas, E.W Jackson, and Prince William’s own Corey Stewart against each other in a June 12 Primary Election. Whoever wins will have Card’s “full-throated” support.
If Stewart doesn’t win?
“I think the Chairmanship of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors is his for as long as we wants it,” said Card. “He has broad support in this county, but when he steps outside of it, it’s anybody’s guess.”
