Political Parties in Virginia: Democratic and Republican

This article provides an overview of the Democratic and Republican parties in Virginia, including their history, leadership, and candidates running for elected positions. It discusses the backgrounds and reasons for running of key leaders such as Susan Swecker (Democratic Party) and Jack R. Wilson (Republican Party). The article also highlights the platforms and ideologies of both parties.

Sociology
Name
Professor
Course
Institution
Date

Introduction
The US Constitution, typically shaped by the existing Virginia politicians did not expect the
establishment of various political parties. The federal and democratic parties became were some
of the parties that emerged. Virginia's politicians led the US in 1800 however the Federalist Party
became extinct in 1820 as a result of the mobilization of voters by its leader Andrew Jackson. In
1970, Virginia’s political parties have philosophically increased its tune to their existing parties.
Owing to the rise of the modern Republican Party, there has been a two-party competition which
has political features in Virginia. This has led to changes in various federal civil right laws, and
court decision-making system (Brunell & Grofman,2018).
1. The Democratic party of Virginia
The party is situated in Richmond in the Ward Rich mind, Virginia. It has a strong partnership
with the national democratic party of the US. The entire organization is usually led using a
critical; state party plan. which ensures that the selection process of a current candidate running
for office is open, air and credible. it comprises of various members and party officials.
However, it acquires a majority of its voters from Tider water region, which is in the
metropolitan Richmond.
History
Historically, this party has continuously dominated Virginia politics dating from the 1880s to
1960s. It originated in the republic from the conflicts over domestic and foreign policies which
gave rise to the party. Jackson led the opposition established the party called Whigs. Former
democrats and Whigs between the year 1861 and 1877 produced the conservative party together.

However, they lost power to an interracial coalition referred to as Readjuster Party. In 1883,
reconstruction led to the change of the party's name to the Democratic Party.
The Democratic party of Virginia reinforced its strength mid 21st century. Due to some extent to
the developing rural areas outside of Washington, D.C. Virginia voters bolstered Popularity
based President Barrack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 decisions. Non-presidential race years, in
any case, have shown support for Republican candidates, for example, the decision of
Republican Representative Robert McDonnell in 2009 (Brunell & Grofman,2018). As of June 2017,
Democrats controlled each of the four partisan statewide chosen workplaces and both U.S.
Senate seats, yet were a minority in the Virginia General Gathering and the congressional
appointment.
The state party organization is managed by use of various rule and bylaws. Commonly, these
offer structure to the diverse dimensions of the organization in the local, state and national
domain in order to offer protocol required to elect committee officials. The standing rules
likewise regularly give subtleties on the party's procedure for choosing and sending agents to the
national party tradition amid presidential races the following comprise of the party's set of rules
and regulations
• The state focal committee is the administering body of the party
• The state central committee is comprised of 20 individuals chosen from the state's
congressional regions. The organization's board enrollment likewise incorporates certain chosen
officials and delegates.
• The committee is expected to hold a total of 4 AGM meetings on an annual basis

Leadership
As of June 2017, the official chief of the Virginia Democratic Party was Becca Slutzky.
2. The Republican party of Virginia.
History
The Republican Party of Virginia is the Virginia ideological group partner of the national
Republican Party. The organization is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.
It was founded in 1854 by the opposition as a result of a slavery that comprised of American
civil war (1861-1865).
The Republican Party of Virginia became popular in the state amid the years following the
Common Civil War; however, the Democratic Party was the state's predominant ideological
group through the mid-twentieth century. Amid the 1970s, the Republican Party picked up
quality and Virginia turned into a focused two-party state. As of late, Republican help in the state
has been most obvious amid non-presidential race years, as exhibited by the decision of
Republican Senator Robert McDonnell in 2009. As of June 2017, the Republican Party held a
lion's share of seats in Virginia (Brunell & Grofman,2018). General assembly and the existing
ultimate congressional delegate, however no factional statewide chosen offices
Its platforms
The Republican Party of Virginia's creed is made out of six fundamental issues;
• Free venture.”That the free venture framework is the most gainful provider of human needs and
financial equity,"

• Eual rights "That all people are qualified for equivalent rights, equity, and openings and ought
to accept their obligations as residents in a free society,"
• Fiscal obligation.”That financial obligation and budgetary limitations must be practiced at all
dimensions of government,"
• Individual freedom ."That the Government must safeguard singular freedom by watching
Protected constraints,"
• Faith ."That confidence in God, as perceived by our Establishing Fathers is basic to the ethical
fiber of the Country."
The state party is represented by a set of rules and also bylaws. Ordinarily, these offer structure
to the distinctive dimensions of the organization —on both local and national level —and build
up a convention for choosing board individuals. The local laws likewise commonly give
subtleties on the party's procedure for nomination process and providing delegates to the national
convention in order to carry out presidential race. The following are some of its rules and bylaws
which mainly focus on the overall structure and governance of the party system.
• The party seat serves a four-year term and is chosen at the quadrennial state convention
• The organization's central committee members manage usage of Republican Party enacted
policies and assemble conferences or annual general meetings of the state convention.
• The organizations committee is in charge of maintenance of the executive directors, financial
officials, auditors and the budgetary committee members
The governing body of the two-state Virginia political parties build up their own rules for the
presidential selection process (Brunell & Grofman,2018).State-level associates of the party likewise

have something to do with deciding principles and arrangements in their very own states. People
keen on getting familiar with the designation procedure should contact the ideological groups
themselves for full subtleties. Virginia had 108 representatives at the 2016 democratic national
convention currently held. Of this aggregate, 95 were vowed delegates. National party rules
stipulated how Popularity based delegates in all states were distributed. Promised delegates were
apportioned to an applicant in the extent to the votes the person got in a state's caucus
(Magness,Carden & Geloso, 2019).
Current leaders and their backgrounds
The section shows the current leaders, their background and political experience.
(1).The democratic party of Virginia.
a. The chairperson Susan Swecker.
Ethnic and socioeconomic background information
The lifelong living chairperson Susan Swecker was born in Swecker family in Blue Grass Valley
that's in Highland County. Susan Swecker brought up in a God-fearing family and that's when
she learned the skills of leadership. She was seriously involved in political matters related to the
state at childhood since she used to listen to other peoples affairs in the state. This concern
helped Susan to believe in the Democratic Party (Magness et al.,2019).That strong feature that's
listening to other people's opinions and God-fearing traits forms the background information of
Susan in politics. She is an open-minded leader and that's why she has served for long
Political experience

Over the years Susan has served the party effectively. At the Age of 22, she was nominated as
the chairperson for the Highland County Democratic Committee. In 1980 she worked in
professional campaign job for the Jimmy Carter Re-elect in the state. Since that time Susan
Swecker has participated in a number of leadership roles including serving as executive director
of Democratic Party of Virginia. Susan played a key role in the election of Governor Terry
McAuliffe in 2013 whereby she served in advising the governor on hiring and appointments.
(2).The Republican Party of Virginia.
a. The chairperson Jack R.Wilson
Ethnic and socioeconomic background information
Jack Wilson is a father of 4 children. He graduated in Magna Cum Laude with Bachelor of Arts
in political science in 1982. He later received the M.BA in 1983 from the Virginia University. In
1990 he later obtained his law degree from the Columbia University. While in Virginia West
University Jack was distinguished as a military graduate. He started officer basic course and after
completion, he was assigned as the medical platoon leader in Germany where he later became
the captain of the military. He has worked in the profession of law whereby he has worked for
Richmond Virginia courts (Magness et al.,2019). He handled cases incurred in the state and also in
Virginia. He has tried cases of all levels in the USA including the high court appeals and also
Supreme Court cases. In 2008, he started his own Chesterfield County which focused on
commercial real estates in the state, the issue of land use in the state and also the litigation. He
also succeeded in carrying the AV Ratings from the Martindale Hubbell which was the highest
level possible thus proving his skills and excellence for the legal knowledge and ethical conduct
in the state.

The political experience
Generally, Jack has been an active republic since in school where he was the president of the
College Republications at the Virginia University. He was also involved in the Chesterfield
County Republican committee and later he was elected as the chairperson of GOP units in the
state. He has served on the state central committee from the 7th district until he was redirected to
the 4th congressional district in the state. In 2007 he was elected as the chairperson of the 4th
district committee and he has served in the position for a long time. He is one of the longest-
serving district chairpersons in the USA (Magness et al.,2019). He has also served in the executive
committee of the RPV whereby he served as the chairman of the Budget Committee in the state.
Candidates running for elected positions in the state party.
The two parties have different leaders controlling different positions. The section describes the
candidates and shows why they run the positions given. Some of the candidates in the parties
include;
1. The Democratic Party candidates
(a).Tim Kaine
Backgrounds and reason for running the position
He was born in Saint Paul Minnesota and grew up in Kansa. He graduated from the University of
Missouri and earned a degree from Harvard law school. He is elected as the incumbent U.S.
Senator, the former governor and the nominee for vice president in 2016. Tim Kaine runs the
position because he is experienced in matters related to law and he has handled a number of
proceedings in the state.

2. The Republican Party candidates
(a). Nick Freitas
Backgrounds and reason for running the position
He was born on August 29, 1979, in Chico California. After school, he joined the USA army
whereby during this time he graduated in Henley –Putnam University. He is elected as the state
delegate. Nick was elected to represent the 30th district comprising the Orange County and
Madison County.
(b).The Corey Stewart
Backgrounds and reason for running the positions given
He was born on August 1, 1968, in Duluth, Minnesota. He graduated from the Mitchell College
of Law in Minnesota and afterward he settled in Virginia (Magness et al.,2019). He is the
chairperson of Prince William Board of County Supervisor. He was elected because he drew
attention to media for spearheading Prince William in 2007 crackdown on the illegal immigrants
in the state.
Conclusion
The discussion has clearly analyzed the two parties in Virginia State. All the information relates
to the two main political parties in the state. The current leaders and candidates running
particular positions have been clearly discussed.

References
Brunell, T. L., & Grofman, B. (2018). Using US Senate delegations from the same state as paired
comparisons: Evidence for a Reagan realignment. PS: Political Science & Politics, 51(3), 512-
516.
Magness, P. W., Carden, A., & Geloso, V. (2019). James M. Buchanan and the Political Economy of
Desegregation. Southern Economic Journal, 85(3), 715-741.