August 25, 2017 News & Press Releases · Press Releases and Announcements

Day 14: The Trump-ification of Ed Gillespie is Well On Its Way


by Democratic Party of Virginia

Day 14: The Trump-ification of Ed Gillespie is Well On Its Way

In a presidency filled with low points, the Trump White House may have finally hit rock bottom. The President's reaction to Charlottesville has drawn strong rebuke from Republican officials, business leaders — and even close allies like Chris Christie. The President is now publicly feuding with at least three U.S. senators — and his agenda appears all but stalled for now.

But instead of standing up to Trump’s vile defense of white supremacists, for two full weeks now Ed Gillespie has decided to further embrace Trump’s toxic presidency. Yesterday, Trump Virginia Co-Chair John Fredericks reported that the Gillespie campaign had hired former Trump and Corey Stewart staffer Jack Morgan. It’s just the latest sign that Gillespie is desperately trying to win over the base of his own party by moving farther and farther to the right.

Gillespie has a choice: be on Virginia’s side or the side of the Trump agenda… and he is choosing Trump.

And in case you missed it, here is an op-ed from Jack Morgan touting his support for Donald Trump and Corey Stewart.

The Bull Elephant: Op-Ed by Jack Morgan: A Positive Response to the Attacks on Corey Stewart

By Jack Morgan
December 14, 2016

My name is Jack Morgan. Many of you in Republican circles may know me as former Chairman of the Bland County Republican Committee, former member of the RPV State Central Committee, and two-term Chairman of the 9th District Republican Committee. Still others recognize me as Donald Trump’s 9th District Chairman. I spoke at a couple Trump rallies and served as Emcee for his Radford event.  Late in the race I took an official staff position with the campaign. I have spent years volunteering in Virginia politics, always for the candidate I believed to be the most conservative in any given race.

You may question my choice of candidates or even my judgment; heck you might even think I’m wrong on every issue. However, if you know me or saw my work for President Elect Trump beginning in mid 2015 you cannot question my support from the beginning for Mr. Trump.

I say all of this to give credence to my support for and defense of Corey Stewart. Recently three men I know and worked with have accused Corey of not sincerely support Donald Trump and only focusing on his 2017 Gubernatorial race while serving as State Chair for the Trump campaign. That, my friends, is laughable. Corey like I, signed on in a volunteer role for Mr. Trump early in his run when most were running the other way. He immediately began to travel the state, rallying support and speaking at every event possible to explain why Donald Trump was exactly who America needed. In an early conversation he and I had, we discussed how a failed run by Mr. Trump could ultimately hurt him but he was clear that it was worth the risk because we had to save America and we both believed Donald Trump was the one to do it.

Late in the race when most other 2017 candidates and elected Republicans across Virginia would do little more than give half hearted support for our candidate, Corey was traveling all over Virginia, with several trips all the way into Southwest Virginia speaking at events, sponsoring door knocks and even knocking on doors in Wythe County with his wife Maria. During all of this, he was reluctant to ever mention his own race, instead focusing all of his attention on electing Donald Trump. At one point, while listening to a small farmer tell him how his family had struggled, Corey was reminded by another volunteer to mention his run for Governor, did so briefly, and moved back to discussing the importance of the 2016 election. Like always, he was intently focused on working for Donald Trump.

Campaigns can bring out the best and sometimes the worst in people. I make no claims as to the reasons others have decided to go negative and make claims that myself and other Trump employees and volunteers know to be false. However, I will end on a positive note. I know that Corey Stewart wholeheartedly (and more sincerely than any other 2017 Gubernatorial candidate) supported President Elect Donald J. Trump since day one. I’m positive the truth will come out in the end as it always does. Finally, after the attacks of recent days I am more confident than ever that I chose the right candidate for Governor. I hope you will do the same.

Jack Morgan is formerly the Chairman of the Bland County Republican Committee, member of the RPV State Central Committee, and two-term Chairman of the 9th District Republican Committee. Most recently, he served as the 9th District Chairman for Trump.