Virginia GOP Senator Admits Trump Is Toxic for Virginia Republicans

RICHMOND, VA – Earlier this week Republican Senator Bill Stanley floated a run for Governor in 2021, but with a big caveat: he’d hold off if Trump won reelection because of how toxic the president is in Virginia. “Northern Virginia may not be favorable to anyone that has an ‘R’ next to their name,” if Trump were to remain president, Stanley said in an interview with VPM Tuesday.

Stanley admitted what few Virginia Republicans have been willing to say openly: Donald Trump’s leadership is a massive liability for other Republicans. Virginia Republicans haven’t won a statewide election since 2009, and Democrats have rode record turnout in post-2016 elections to take trifecta control of state government for the first time in decades and flip three Congressional seats.

“Donald Trump has been an unmitigated disaster for Virginia Republicans. While few will admit it openly, his incompetence, corruption, and failed policies have cost them dearly at the polls year after year. He’s so toxic that one of their top prospects to run for governor is openly admitting he’ll call off a run for higher office if Trump remains as the leader of their party,” said DPVA Communications Director Grant Fox.

Donald Trump’s attempts to influence Virginia politics have been catastrophic. Last year he endorsed Senate candidate Geary Higgins, who then lost by nine points to Democrat John Bell. In 2018 he endorsed Congressman Dave Brat, who lost to Abigail Spanberger in a district Trump won by eight points. Trump also endorsed Corey Stewart in 2018, who then lost by 16 points to Senator Tim Kaine. In 2017, Trump endorsed Ed Gillespie, who lost by nine points to Ralph Northam.

Recent polling shows Trump’s favorability rating is 19 points underwater in Virginia.