This may not be an election year for the Virginia General Assembly, but certain individual races are still being held due to resignations of key legislators. These special elections are extremely important. They provide an opportunity for pro-lifers to exert a greater influence on the outcome because most special elections have a low turnout. A large turnout of pro-life voters can make the difference between having a pro-life legislator and a pro-abortion one, perhaps for many years to come.

Two special elections are being held on August 6 and we are fortunate in each race to have a solidly pro-life candidate. 37th District Senator Warren Barry (R) and 89th District Delegate Jerrauld Jones (D) have both resigned to take appointments by Governor Warner. The VSHL Political Action Committee has endorsed Ken Cuccinelli for the 37th District Senate seat and Linda Horsey for the 89th District House seat.

Two more special elections will be held on November 5 at the same time as the general election for U.S. Senator and Representatives from Virginia, for the following reasons:

• Senator Madison Marye (D), the most senior member of the Virginia Senate, has resigned his 39th District seat, effective August 1. In the redistricting done after the 2000 census, the 39th District was moved to Northern Virginia, far away from Sen. Marye’s home. The new district lines went into effect in June 2001, when the U.S. Department of Justice approved Virginia’s reapportionment plan. “It’s not fair for people in Northern Virginia to be represented by someone down here, 250 miles away,” Sen. Marye said. Pro-life Delegate Jay O’Brien (R) has announced that he is a candidate for this seat.
• Delegate Vance Wilkins (R) resigned his position as Speaker of the House and has announced that he will resign his 24th District seat on August 15. Democrat and Republican candidates are lining up to run for the special election to fill Del. Wilkins’ seat.

Published in VSHL Lifesaver, August, 2002