Democratic Party of Virginia

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Democratic Party of Virginia is based in Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is affiliated with the National Democratic Party of the United States. The organization is governed by a State Party Plan,^[1] which guarantees an open and fair candidate selection process. Although the party has members and elected officials throughout the state, it draws its highest number of votes from the Tidewater area and suburban Washington, DC.

Historically, the Democratic Party has dominated Virginia politics. Because voters do not register by party, there is no official breakdown of the electorate by party. One indicator is the most recent (2005) gubernatorial election, with 51.72% for Kaine (D), 45.99% for Kilgore (R), 2.22% for Potts (I), and 0.08% for other candidates. Of the 39 Governors directly elected by Virginia voters, 34 have been Democrats and 5 have been Republicans. However, in the 1990's the Republican Party made gains in part by aligning itself with the Religious Right. These gains have recently been reversed as the suburbs of Washington, DC grow in population and vote increasingly Democratic.

[edit] Current leadership

Leading Virginia democrats Douglas Wilder, Jim Webb, Tim Kaine, and Mark Warner with Barack Obama

The Hon. C. Richard Cranwell was elected Party Chairman on June 18, 2005. Levar Stoney is Executive Director.

[edit] Legislative initiatives

The 2005 State Party Platform, entitled "Moving Virginia Forward," consolidates policy resolutions adopted at the 2005 State Convention.^[2] In the absence of any recently adopted formal party platform, the Democratic agenda is reflected in Governor Tim Kaine's legislative initiatives:^[3]

[edit] Transportation

Governor Kaine worked with the General Assembly to fund new investments in Virginia’s transportation network, including investments in public transit.

The new law authorizes up to $600 million for transportation in locally imposed taxes and fees in Virginia’s two most congested areas – Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads – while dedicating equally significant funding to statewide projects. The bill requires all new funding dedicated to transportation will be used only for transportation.

New laws better regulate subdivision streets that are accepted into the state maintenance system, and improve accountability in transportation management by creating the Transportation Accountability Commission.

[edit] Tax Relief

The Democrats won a significant tax cut for Virginia’s working families, taking over 140,000 low-income Virginians off of the tax rolls.

The Governor also negotiated important business tax reforms, preventing imposition of the business, professional, and occupational license (BPOL) tax on motor fuels tax payments and making taxation of machinery and tools used by manufacturers more consistent.

The Governor’s proposed constitutional amendment allowing local property tax relief for homeowners also passed the 2007 General Assembly and will be introduced for its second passage in the 2008 session.

Historically, the Democratic members of the State Legislature have pressed for a repeal or reduction of sales taxes on groceries.

[edit] Education

Through his budget amendments, Governor Kaine secured the state's share of a 3% salary increase for teachers and other public school employees. The Governor also won funding for a Start Strong pilot program to test ways to expand the availability of pre-kindergarten programs, as well as funding to expand the Early Reading Intervention program targeted at first and second grade students.

The Governor has also proposed that high-quality pre-school be available for 4-year-olds throughout the state.^[4]

[edit] Health Care

Governor Kaine established a bipartisan Health Reform Commission to address those healthcare issues in Virginia that will require long-term strategies. He also took concrete steps in 2007 to expand access to prenatal healthcare; improve the quality of care for the elderly; and help encourage healthier living through childhood obesity programs and better wellness support for state employees.

The enacted health care package also included an improved emphasis on women and minority health.

[edit] Public Safety

In further support of those Virginians who serve their state and their nation, Governor Kaine secured funding for room/board and textbook assistance for spouses and children of Virginians killed or severely disabled in service; increased pay and retirement benefits for law enforcement and corrections officers; and improved employment protections for National Guard and Reserve members.

[edit] Environment

In continued support for Virginia's commitment to a clean Chesapeake Bay, Governor Kaine worked with the legislature to authorize $250 million in bonds to help localities upgrade sewage treatment plants throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

A sales tax holiday was enacted for Energy Star approved products.^[5]

[edit] Current events

Although it is difficult to measure total fundraising contributions because money is donated to political action committees as well as directly to the parties, public records show that in 2007, the Virginia Republican Party has received $3,376,215 compared with $8,245,806 for the Democrats.^[6]

Historic Partisan Makeup of the Virginia House of Delegates

In 2006, a budget deadlock between the Republican-controlled House of Delegates and the Republican-controlled Senate resulted in the legislative session extending far beyond its normal term as well as a special session. In general, the Democrats favor a progressive income tax and sought to eliminate the sales tax on groceries.

In 2007, the need to fund $1 billion per year for pressing transportation projects, resulted in another impass between the House of Delegates and Senate. Rather than approve additional tax increases, the final Republican plan, which was enacted into law, resulted in new abusive driving fees of up to $3,000 which are assessed against Virginia residents in addition to the historic fines assessed on out-of-state drivers convicted of the same driving law violations. The Republican plan also called for issuing general obligation bonds which Democrats claim will reduce funding of non-transportation needs in future years. In general, the Democrats opposed the abusive driving fees. On 2007-08-23, the Republican leaders of the House and Senate responded to public opposition of the new fees by promising to moderate them in the 2008 legislative session.^[7]

Historic Partisan Makeup of the Virginia State Senate

Leading up to the November 2007 elections, where all of the House of Delegates and Senate seats were up for reelection, Democrats highlighted the Republicans inability to lead the legislature. In response, the Republicans focused on illegal immigration and unveiled a proposal to prohibit illegal immigrants from attending public colleges and requiring sheriffs to check people's immingation status before releasing them from jail.^[8] As a result, Democrats in 2007 regained control of the State Senate and narrowed the Republican majority in the House of Delegates to 7 or 8 seats.^[9]

As of July 2007, Democrats hold one of Virginia's two seats in the U.S. Senate, 3 of 11 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, a majority in the State Senate and a minority in the Virginia House of Delegates. Additionally, a Democrat serves as Virginia's Governor.

[edit] 2008 Budget battle

For the first time in the Kaine Administration, the Governor's 2008-10 budget faced a legislature with each chamber controlled by a different party. The priority items in the budget were: a Pre-Kindergarten initiative, improvements to child services, an expansion of health care access, investments in higher education, and improvements for mental health.^[10] The Republicans fought the new spending, instead emphasizing the need to confine spending to "core" programs. By the time the regular session ended on March 8, no agreement had been reached. However, the parties had reached a compromise on March 12, with a final budget expected to be adopted on March 13.^[11]

Reportedly, the final budget is set at $77 billion with $296 million to be withdrawn from the state's reserve fund to make up a revenue shortfall in the current year. Democratic leaders from the Senate persuaded House Republicans to drop a prohibition on funding Planned Parenthood of Virginia, which performs abortions, and groups that conduct stem cell research.^[11]

[edit] 2008 Presidential election

The 2008 Presidential Preference Primary was held on February 12, 2008. Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson all turned in enough signatures to the Virginia State Board of Elections to qualify to run in the Commonwealth. Chris Dodd did not file with the State Board of Elections by the December 14, 5:00 pm deadline.^[12]

Delegates to the 2008 National Convention will be selected in proportion to the votes gained in the primary. The results of the primary are:

Each city or county will caucus to elect delegates to the state convention in proportion to the primary results during the third week of April. The Democratic Party of Virginia will send 103 delegates and 14 alternates to the national convention in Denver, Colorado. Eighteen of the 103 delegates are automatically allocated to party leaders. In May 2008, 54 delegates and 11 alternates will be elected at Congressional District Conventions. An additional 20 at large delegates, 11 party leader and elected official delegates, and 3 alternates will be elected at the Virginia State Democratic Convention on June 14, 2008, in Hampton, Virginia.^[14] The allocation of delegates between the two candidates which received at least 15% of the vote, based on the primary results, are as follows:

[edit] 2009 statewide elections

On January 4, 2008, Del. Brian Moran announced that he was running for Governor in 2009 and had formed an exploratory committee.^[16]

[edit] See also

• Virginia state elections, 2007
• Virginia United States Senate election, 2006
• Virginia gubernatorial election, 2005
• Virginia Politics
• Byrd Organization

[edit] References

1. ^ Democratic Party of Virginia | Party Rules
2. ^ http://www.vademocrats.org/pages/issues/ Retrieved 2007-09-07.
3. ^ http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Initiatives/Legislation2007/index.cfm Retrieved 2007-09-07.
4. ^ Governor Tim Kaine: Issues and Initiatives
5. ^ http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/RelatedProgs/salestaxholiday.shtml
6. ^ http://www.vpap.org/pacs/raised.cfm Retrieved 2008-02-14.
7. ^ B. Lewis "GOP Plan: Moderate Abusive Driving Fees" Associated Press http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=1195457&nid=25 Retrieved 2007-09-04
8. ^ T. Craig, "Democratic Gains Predicted in Va. Assembly" Washington Post p. A1 2007-09-02.
9. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/07/AR2007110700553_2.html Retrieved 2007-11-07.
10. ^ http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Initiatives/Legislation2008/ Retrieved 2008-03-13.
11. ^ ^{a b} Tim Craig, "Va. Lawmakers Seek End to Budget Clash", Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/13/AR2008031301766.html?sub=AR Retrieved 2008-03-13.
12. ^ http://www.vademocrats.org/news/items/2008_presidential_candidates/ Retrieved 2008-01-03.
13. ^ https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2008/67F01F96-1E82-472E-8051-CF1B1C3786A4/Unofficial/1_s.shtml Retrieved 2008-02-12.
14. ^ http://www.vademocrats.org/pages/democratic_party_of_virginia_adopts_selection_plan/ Retrieved 2008-01-03.
15. ^ http://www.vademocrats.org/pages/presidential_primary_delegates/ Retrieved 2008-02-20.
16. ^ Washington Post, 2008-01-06 p. C4.

[edit] External links

• Democratic Party of Virginia Party Website
• Virginia Young Democrats
• Arlington Democrats
• Senate Caucus
• House Caucus