Corey Stewart: McAuliffe and Chopra are 'Carpetbaggers'

Democratic candidates Terry McAuliffe and Aneesh Chopra are "Carpetbaggers", according to Corey Stewart, one of seven Virginia Republicans running for Virginia Lt. Governor.

The Money

Stewart cited recently released financial figures for McAuliffe (running for Governor) and Chopra (Lt. Gov.), which show that a majority of their political donations come from outside Virginia.

Stewart has raised $700,000 in his campaign and has $363,087 in the bank as of March 31, according to recently released financial figures.

Chopra (who is running in a Democratic primary against Ralph Northam) has nearly $1 million in on-hand cash. More than half of Chopra's campaign contributions come from donors living outside Virginia.

"Together, that dynamic duo of Chopra and McAuliffe (who has ove $5 million in the bank) - most of their money comes from out of state, and people are going to look at them like they're a couple of carpetbaggers, and that's what they are," said Stewart.  

Tie-breaker

The winner of the Lt. Governor's race will have a tie-breaking vote in the deadlocked Virginia State Senate.

Stewart, 44, has been Chair of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors since 2006, and spoke for a half hour at the Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield and touted his economic record and controversial stance on illegal immigration enforcement. 

"We have a problem. There aren't enough Republicans in the State Senate with guts," said Stewart. "They always back off to pressure from the Democrats… I've been governing in a Democratic-leaning county, and I've had to get things done as a conservative and have been able to get things done… because I have learned to play hardball." 

Finances

Under Stewart's leadership, the county Board cut $143 million in spending, resulting in tax cuts and the elimination of more than 300 county positions, he said. 

 “I’ve reduced spending, reduced taxes, and reduced violent crime in Prince William County; that’s what I want to do in all of Virginia,” Stewart said. “Prince William County is number one in job growth in Virginia and number three in United States.”

Immigration

In 2007, the Prince William Board of Supervisors initiated a crackdown on illegal immigration, which requires police officers to check the immigration status of those under arrest. The measure has resulted in over 6,000 illegal aliens who have been turned over to the federal government, said Stewart.  

Does it hurt his image in a county with 52% minority voters? Stewart responded that his positions against abortion and gay marriage "are the bridge to minority voters.” 

On the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)

“I am going to try my best to slow it down and stop it. It’s an absolute train wreck.”

On Republican Governor Bob McDonnell's support of a special tax district in Northern Virginia to pay for local transportation improvements. 

"Why he did it - I don't know. I wish he hadn't," said Stewart. "Virginia doesn't have a revenue problem. Revenues are healthy and growing for the Commonwealth. They do have a spending problem. They refuse to take money out of the general fund to spend on transportation." 

The Convention

The final candidate for Republican Lt. Governor will not be chosen in a primary, but instead at a Republican State Convention next week. 

• Del. Scott Lingamfelter (R-31st) - raised $262,503
• Tech businessman Pete Snyder
• State Sen. Steve Martin (R-11th) - raised $55,920
• Former State Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis - raised $412,819
• Susan Stimpson, chair of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors - raised $211,844
• E.W. Jackson Sr., minister and former U.S. Senate candidate - raised $140,848

It was the announcement of the 2013 convention compelled Virginia's current Lt. Gov Bill Bolling to forfeit his run at the Republican nomination for governor. Bolling called the convention a mistake that would ultimately hurt Virginia’s Republican Party.

About Corey Stewart

Stewart, an international trade attorney, lives with his wife and two children in Woodbridge. He has a foreign service degree from Georgetown University and a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul, Minn. 

He was elected chair of the county board in a special election in 2006, to fill the seat vacated by now-State Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton. He was reelected in 2007 and 2011. 

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