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We finally have a location, along with a new date and time for Republicans in the 10th District to vote next week. 

First off, the big question. What are they voting for? Back in November, State Sen. John McGuire ran for and was elected to serve as the next representative for Virginia’s 5th District in the U.S. Senate. But that election left a hole in the General Assembly. Someone needs to fill McGuire’s 10th District State Senate seat. A special election needs to be called, however currently it can’t be, as McGuire has yet to resign. That’s expected to take place in the weeks ahead, so a vote can be taken and a new state senator can be seated in time for the January Assembly session. 

But before that happens, first the parties need to elect candidates. On the Democrat side, that’s easy and has already happened. Just one candidate filed on that side, so there was no need for a primary. Instead, Jack Trammel will represent the Democrats. Republicans, on the other hand, see this as an opportunity to move up to the state level. There are seven would-be state senators on the Republican side, each trying to secure votes as we head toward next week’s mass meeting. The list includes Cumberland County Board of Supervisors member Bryan Hamlett, current Louisa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Duane Adams, former State Senator Amanda Chase, Chase’s former staffer and U.S. veteran Shayne Snavely, Prince Edward County business owner Luther Cifers, recent University of Richmond graduate Alex Cheatham and Gannon Appraisals owner Jean Gannon.

Where and when will Republicans vote in 10th District? 

The Republican nominee will be chosen on Friday, Dec. 13, during a mass meeting held at the Goochland Sports Complex. It’s located at 1800 Sandy Hook Road in Goochland. Registration starts at 4:30 p.m., with the meeting starting at 6:30 p.m.

Now unlike the Virginia primaries, only Republicans are allowed to cast a ballot for their specific candidate. Also, it could be a lengthy process. Unlike some of the other options, a mass meeting goes through several rounds of voting. Each round removes the last place candidate, until it gets down to one final choice, who wins at least 50.1% of the vote in the final ballot. 

There had been some discussion about holding it on Saturday, Dec. 14, but hunters in the group and across the region had asked for that not to take place, as that’s the day you’ll most likely find them up in a tree. Originally, the 10th District Republican Committee set the meeting for Thursday, Dec. 12, but there was argument about that date as well. Some claimed it would be harder to get people out, registered and in place by 6:30 p.m. in the middle of the week. So instead, it’s been bumped back a day to Friday, Dec. 13.
“Please be sure to bring your ID and check in to be credentialed once you arrive,” the 10th District Committee said in a statement on social media. “Rules of the meeting have yet to be determined, but one of the 7 candidates will need to garner at least 50% plus 1 of the vote to win the nomination. Please make sure you arrive in plenty of time to be checked in no later than 6:30 p.m.”