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The '''2013 Republican Party of Virginia convention''' was the process by which the [[Republican Party of Virginia]] selected its nominees for the offices [[Governor of Virginia|Governor]], [[Lieutenant Governor of Virginia|Lieutenant Governor]], and [[Attorney General of Virginia|Attorney General]] for the [[Virginia elections, 2013|2013 general election]] in November. The convention was held on May 17 and 18, 2013, in the state capital of [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] at th(contracted; show full)

In June 2012, the party's State Central Committee, which had new members since the committee previously voted to hold a primary, reversed course and voted 47-31 to select a nominee via convention in 2013, igniting much controversy among party members.<ref name="APswitch">
[{{Cite web |url=http://hamptonroads.com/2012/06/virginia-gop-picks-closed-convention-2013 |title=Virginia GOP picks closed convention for 2013] |access-date=2020-07-07 |archive-date=2014-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811094347/http://hamptonroads.com/2012/06/virginia-gop-picks-closed-convention-2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The switch was a major blow to Bolling's candidacy, as Cuccinelli supporters were more ardent and involved in the party and thus more willing to travel to a day-long convention.<ref name="WTswitch">[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/15/va-gop-switches-primary-convention-make-2013-guber/ Va. GOP switches from primary to convention to make 2013 gubernatorial nomination]</ref> Proponents of the reversal said a convention would prevent [[Democratic Party of Vir(contracted; show full)OP congressional nominee [[Keith Fimian]], and state Sen. [[Jeff McWaters]].<ref name="WPhopefuls"/> Obenshain ended up running for attorney general; Fimian began raising money but decided not to run for the sake of his family;<ref>[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20121127132448/http://www.coreystewart.com/2012/04/10/stewart-to-run-for-lieutenant-governor/ Stewart to run for lieutenant governor]</ref> and speculation on McWaters waned and he never entered the race.<ref>
[{{Cite web |url=http://hamptonroads.com/2012/10/mcwaters-says-no-governor-run-undecided-lg |title=McWaters says 'no' to governor run, undecided on LG] |access-date=2020-07-07 |archive-date=2015-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010062209/http://hamptonroads.com/2012/10/mcwaters-says-no-governor-run-undecided-lg |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The field began taking shape in mid-2012. [[Prince William County]] Board of Supervisors Chairman [[Corey Stewart (politician)|Corey Stewart]] was the first to enter the race, announcing his bid in April 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.fredericksburg.com/on-politics/2012/04/11/prince-william-republican-corey-stewart-announces-run-for-lg/ |title=Prince William Republican Corey Stewart announces run for LG |access-date=2013-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/2013120617593(contracted; show full)

===Attorney General race===
Cuccinelli's run for governor meant the attorney general's office was open in 2013. Within two weeks, three candidates announced bids for the office in 2013. State Sen. Mark Obenshain of [[Harrisonburg, Virginia|Harrisonburg]] announced he was exploring a run on December 2, 2011,<ref>[http://blogs.roanoke.com/politics/2011/12/02/obenshain-exploring-run-for-attorney-general/ Obenshain exploring run for attorney general]
{{Dead link|date=September 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> shortly after Cuccinelli announced he was running for governor, and formally entered the race nearly a year later in November 2012.<ref>[http://blogs.roanoke.com/politics/2012/11/27/obenshain-kicks-off-run-for-attorney-general/ Obenshain kicks off run for attorney general]{{Dead link|date=September 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On December 6, 2011, Delegate [[Rob Bell (Virginia politician)|Rob Bell]] of [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]] entered the race. [[Fairfax County]] [[Court clerk|Circuit Court Clerk]] John Frey entered the race the next day.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/fairfax-clerk-john-frey-announces-run-for-virginia-attorney-general/2011/12/07/gIQAIs6lcO_blog.html Fairfax Clerk John Frey announces run for Virginia attorney general]</ref> Frey dropped out in November 2012, saying his opponents had spent more time campaigning across the state than he did.<ref>[http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/republican-john-frey-withdrawing-from-va-attorney-general-s-race/article_3f8582d8-3891-11e2-a360-0019bb30f31a.html  Republican John Frey withdrawing from Va. attorney general's race]{{Dead link|date=September 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Candidates on the ballot==
===Governor===
*[[Ken Cuccinelli]], Attorney General of Virginia

Cuccinelli became the de facto nominee in January 2013, as Bolling had withdrawn and no other candidate filed for the Republican nomination by the deadline.<ref>[{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.roanoke.com/politics/2013/01/14/cuccinelli-becomes-the-republican-nominee-for-governor/ |title=Cuccinelli becomes the Republican nominee for governor] |access-date=2020-07-07 |archive-date=2013-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116191845/http://blogs.roanoke.com/politics/2013/01/14/cuccinelli-becomes-the-republican-nominee-for-governor/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Lieutenant Governor===
*[[Jeannemarie Devolites Davis]], former State Senator and former State Delegate
*[[E.W. Jackson]], pastor, conservative activist and candidate for the U.S. Senate [[United States Senate election in Virginia, 2012|in 2012]]
*[[Scott Lingamfelter]], State Delegate
*[[Steve Martin (Virginia politician)|Steve Martin]], State Senator
*[[Pete Snyder]], businessman
(contracted; show full)

===Nomination of Cuccinelli===
The convention was called back to order on the morning of May 18, 2013. Cuccinelli was formally nominated by acclamation as thousands of delegates roared "aye" on the motion to nominate him for governor.<ref>
[{{Cite web |url=http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/05/ken-cuccinelli-set-for-gop-nomination-for-virginia-governor-88991.html |title=Ken Cuccinelli nominated for governor by Virginia GOP] |access-date=2020-07-07 |archive-date=2013-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209115945/http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/05/ken-cuccinelli-set-for-gop-nomination-for-virginia-governor-88991.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In his acceptance speech, Cuccinelli stressed his record, contrasting his years of public service in Virginia with his Democratic opponent [[Terry McAuliffe]]'s career. He rolled out a vision including specific calls for reforms of the tax code, education, and regulations.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130630100742/http://www.talkradionews.com/news/2013/05/18/text-of-ken-cuccinellis-acceptance-speech-at-richmond-convention.html%23.UZmupcqNAg8 Text of Ken Cuccinelli’s Acceptance Speech(contracted; show full)

===Nomination of Mark Obenshain===
Obenshain defeated Bell on the first ballot by a margin of 55%-45%.<ref name="55pct">[http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/Obenshain-Celebrates-Republican-Nomination-208090831.html#.UZm8XMqNAg8 Mark Obenshain Celebrates Republican Nomination]
{{Dead link|date=September 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> After the ballots were counted, Bell came to the podium and motioned to withdraw his candidacy and nominate Obenshain for attorney general. Obenshain was then nominated by acclamation. Obenshain's nomination came 35 years after his father, [[Richard D. Obenshain]], received the Republican nomination for the [[United States Senate]] on the same stage at the Richmond Coliseum in May 1978. Richard Obenshain was killed in a plane crash a few months after his nomination. Mark Obenshain was join(contracted; show full)
==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:2013 Virginia elections]]
[[Category:Political party assemblies]]<noinclude>

<small>This page was moved from [[:en:2013 Republican Party of Virginia convention]]. Its edit history can be viewed at [[2013 Republican Party of Virginia convention/edithistory]]</small></noinclude>