Most everyone in the RK community is having a well-deserved celebration tonight. While everyone's partying, though, I wanted to join in and comment on another important primary tonight in the 11th-CD.Andy Hurst has won the Democratic nomination (with the help of his amazing campaign manager James Walkinshaw, of Roemmelt campaign fame!), and as the winner he'll be enjoying a well-deserved celebration and the fruits of his victory. But tonight I want to give a heartfelt shout out to Ken Longmyer, who ran a great campaign as well. Andy, Ken, their campaign managers, and their supporters deserve great credit for running a decent, positive, clean race that does credit to all Virginia Democrats.
Ken stepped up to run against Tom Davis back in summer of 2004, when no other Democrat had gotten a campaign together, because he felt it was a moral imperative that Davis have meaningful opposition. Like many first time candidates against hugely well-funded incumbents, he lost. But he did exactly what we need Democrats to do - he got up, dusted himself off, and vowed to run a stronger, better campaign the next time.
Although Ken did not win the party's nomination this time around, I hope you'll join me here in thanking him for his courage, his dedication, and his service to the party and our country!
Our campaign to represent the people of Virginia’s 11th Congressional District is over.I congratulate Andy Hurst on his victory. I wish him success. I will support him in his race against Tom Davis, and I urge all our supporters to do the same.
I thank my many supporters. One of the best things about running for public office is getting to know so many kind, generous, intelligent, and public-spirited people. You have given me your support and trust, and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate that.
I can’t thank you all by name, but I want recognize a few who made an extraordinary effort:
- Sally Davis, our coordinator in Prince William County,
- Kathy Hackshaw, our coordinator in Fairfax City,
- Larry Baldwin, our coordinator in Sully
- Chris Ambrose, our coordinator in Mt. Vernon, and
- Terry Mansberger, host of our first public event.Although I am disappointed tonight, I am proud to have had your support. I will continue to be involved in public affairs. I look forward to working with all of you in the future.
Ken Longmyer
Falls Church, VA
Kudos to Ken. And congratulations to Andy! I remember Andy's campaign passing out personalized campaign water bottles to poll workers back in spring of '05, and I knew his campaign had some really needed creativity and spark. Both candidates did us proud!
But I'm proud to have Andy Hurst as my candidate...
Let's give Davis a sound thrashing in November...I want to see him squirm some
Good job Ken and Andy...I found your race and both of you to be fine people
-Matt-
Rep. Tom Davis will never have a challenge this big thrown his way!
If any can do it, it's Mr. Hurst. I just hope the money can be raised to get the good message out there. I'm afraid that is what it will come down to.
Congratulations to Andy Hurst...
If only all primary races could be run with such class...
We look forward to working with our Democratic nominee to give Tom Davis a race he will never forget.
I also want to recognize Ken Longmyer and his staff for their strong and relentless efforts to win the nomination. After his loss, Ken made it clear to his supporters and to Andy Hurst that he will back the Hurst campaign 100 percent as we focus on November.
Both of these men ran campaigns that made us all proud. They refrained from taking pot shots or overblown criticisms of the other, knowing that their ultimate target was Tom Davis. They highlighted their differences on the issues and their differences in style, but they did it in a fashion that won accolades from everyone who observed the race.
So now as we move into the General Election campaign in the 11th District, I urge all Democrats to assist the Hurst campaign with your time, your expertise, and your money. To jump start Andy’s campaign, I attended Andy’s victory gathering at his Springfield home and presented him with a contribution of $5,000 from the 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee.
Our contribution is only the start of the support that our congressional nominee in the 11th will receive from all parts of the Democratic Party of Virginia from the 11th District Committee to the Fairfax County, Fairfax City, and Prince William Democratic Committees.
Congratulations to Andy and we look forward to a spirited and victorious campaign to unseat Davis in November.
George Burke, Chair
11th Congressional District Democratic Committee
Democratic Party of Virginia