Tomorrow, the 1st District Congressional Committees for both parties will decide on their nominees for the Dec. 11 special election to fill the seat left vacant by the recent passing of Rep. JoAnn Davis (R-VA). I'll be traveling south to Williamsburg to cover the Democratic caucus. The situation is fairly straight forward from our side (unlike the Republicans who have 11 candidates vying for their nomination by last count. VA Club for Growth Pres. Paul Jost may have the inside track...but who knows?). We have Ted Hontz, a retired Navy Captain, from the north end of the district, around Fredericksburg. And Williamsburg's Phil Forgit, a teacher and Iraq War vet, from the southern part of the 1st.
Forgit has the greater number of county chairs committed to helping him gather the necessary number of delegates. Hontz has some key local endorsements of his own, including big names like Houck and Pollard. A few weeks ago Forgit looked like the clear favorite, as their were several Dems from the Fredericksburg/Stafford/Spotsy area eyeing a run and threatening to split the northern vote. But they've since cleared the field for Hontz, instantly transforming this into an intriguing two-man race. Can't wait! :)