Norm Leahey: Senate Leaderless Trust

Norm Leahey highlights the failures of the Senate Leadership Trust this election cycle with an interesting list:

as my friend points out, looking at the roster of Republicans at the bottom of the email reveals an interesting fact:

Many of them have either retired or lost their re-election bids…

Sen. J. Brandon Bell, II (Roanoke) — defeated in primary.

Sen. Harry B. Blevins (Chesapeake) — faced a surprisingly strong challenge from an underfunded, unknown Libertarian candidate.

Sen. John H. Chichester (Northumberland) — retired.

Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (Vienna) — defeated in general election.

Sen. Emmett W. Hanger (Augusta) — faced nasty primary fight, cruised in the general.

Sen. Charles R. Hawkins (Pittsylvania) — retired.

Sen. William C. Mims (Loudoun) — left Senate to join Attorney General’s office.

Sen. Thomas K. Norment, Jr. (James City) — safe incumbent.

Sen. Frederick M. Quayle (Chesapeake) — generally safe incumbent.

Sen. Nick Rerras (Norfolk) — lost general election.

Sen. Frank M. Ruff (Mecklenburg) — still there and still safe.

Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle (Virginia Beach) — unchallenged, but his brother’s loss in the nearby HOD race shows the Stolle brand isn’t as strong as it once was.

Sen. Walter A. Stosch (Henrico) — Blackburn gives Walter the most difficult race of his career.

Sen. Frank W. Wagner (Virginia Beach) — safe incumbent.

Sen. William C. Wampler, Jr. (Bristol) — safe incumbent.

Sen. John C. Watkins (Powhatan) — Loupassi could be a challenger down the road.

Sen. Martin E. Williams (Newport News) — defeated in primary.

Either they’re gone by primary or they’re safe.  One must wonder, statewide, is it the GOP brand that is supposedly on the decline or that of Senate Leadership?

Ultimately, this is part of the disorganization that threatens the longevity of the Republican Party in Virginia.  The Senate Leadership Trust is an entity unto itself, out of touch not only with conservative values that drive the base to the polls, but with Virginians who they’re supposed to be representing.  Will the loss of majority serve as a wake-up-call to SLT or will they simply shurg it off because they feel safe in their positions?

If they don’t step up and start providing the leadership Republicans and Virginians are looking for, they might find that they’re not so safe next time around.