May 18, 2020 News & Press Releases

Virginia Democrats energized after holding 11 successful virtual Congressional district conventions


by Democratic Party of Virginia

RICHMOND, VA — Over the last three weeks, the Democratic Party of Virginia's 11 Congressional District Committees successfully held virtual conventions to select delegates to the state and national conventions later this year. Over 2,000 people participated in these conventions, which featured speeches from elected officials and leaders like Governor Terry McAuliffe, Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, Governor Ralph Northam, Attorney General Mark Herring, Rep. Jennifer Wexton, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Rep. Elaine Luria, DPVA Chair Susan Swecker, and more. 

Despite the change to virtual conventions, a record 2,300 people registered to be delegates this cycle, and over 3,000 people are expected to attend DPVA's virtual state convention in June. 

The success of these virtual conventions stands in stark contrast to the Republican Party of Virginia's complete inability to adapt their delegate selection process to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Congressional district conventions on the Republican side have been mired in delay, infighting, and confusion, with allegations of corruption and a steady stream of changed dates

"After Democrats shattered turnout numbers on Super Tuesday, we knew we had an unprecedented amount of enthusiasm on our hands to elect Joe Biden. So we worked hard to craft a virtual convention process that would amplify this enthusiasm and keep Democrats across the Commonwealth engaged and fired up to win in November. We had a transparent, organized, and open process while Republicans have been fighting with themselves nonstop, failing to get organized, and putting their candidates in key races at a disadvantage," said DPVA Executive Director Andrew Whitley. 

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