In an unusual election year, both major political parties in Virginia will hold primaries on Tuesday, June 14 to select their respective nominees for the November 2005 general election.

Statewide races for nominations on the Republican ballot include former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore and Warrenton Mayor George Fitch for governor. Republican State Senator Bill Bolling of Hanover and Sean Connaughton, Chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, are in a race for the lieutenant governor nomination and Republican Delegate Bob McDonnell of Virginia Beach is matched up against Richmond attorney Stephen Baril for the attorney general nomination.

The Virginia Society for Human Life Political Action Committee has endorsed Republicans Jerry Kilgore, Bill Bolling, and Bob McDonnell for their respective races based upon their solid pro-life records and leadership while in office.

Sean Connaughton, the only other statewide candidate in the primary to return VSHL's candidate survey, gave pro-life answers on all questions.

The Democrats have only one contested statewide race, their party's nomination for lieutenant governor. Four candidates vying for the nomination are former delegate J.C. "Chap" Petersen of Fairfax, former delegate Viola Baskerville of Richmond, State Senator Phillip Puckett of Tazewell, and Leslie Byrne of Falls Church, a former member of Congress and the Virginia General Assembly. Sen. Puckett has a 100 percent pro-life record on right-to-life votes scored by VSHL. Like a number of pro-life candidates running in the primary for House of Delegates, Sen. Puckett did not return VSHL's candidate questionnaire and, therefore, could not be considered for endorsement.

Voting records of members of the General Assembly on right-to-life legislation scored by VSHL can be found as follows:

House of Delegates Nominees to be Decided in 19 Districts

Twelve Republican and seven Democratic races for House of Delegates nominations will also appear on Primary ballots in certain districts.

In a five-way contest for the Democratic nomination, James P. Councill, III of Franklin has been endorsed to fill the District 75 seat of his father J.Paul Councill, Jr. who is retiring from office after serving in the House of Delegates for 30 years.

In District 23, pro-life Republican Del. L. Preston Bryant of Lynchburg is endorsed over pro-life challenger Robert Garber.