State GOP Chairman Hopes to Unite Party

By Matt Leonard

Capital News Service

As the newly elected chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, John Whitbeck wants to unite a frayed political organization and increase its fundraising efforts.

Whitbeck, an attorney in Loudoun County, was elected by the party’s State Central Committee at its Jan. 24 meeting in Falls Church. He ran unopposed after Aaron Wheeler, pastor of a Baptist church in Chesapeake, dropped his bid for state party chairman.

Upon his election, Whitbeck took over immediately, saying he had long been preparing for the job.

“As some of you know, I have already started my work on behalf of the RPV,” Whitbeck said in his acceptance speech. “In the last few weeks, I have traveled around Virginia meeting with grassroots folks, leaders in the business community and Republicans from every corner of our party.”

From that traveling and his early days in office, Whitbeck said, two priorities emerged: party unity and fundraising.

Whitbeck is taking the reins of a party that has at times seemed torn between mainstream Republicans and the Tea Party. He hopes the “Republican creed” will help unite these two groups.

The creed voices support for free enterprise, frugal budgeting, a strong military and other issues popular with conservatives.

“That’s why Dave Brat had so much support from all around the party,” Whitbeck said of the new congressman who knocked off Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the Republican primary in Central Virginia. “Because he campaigned simply on the Republican creed.”

Whitbeck said winning an election is much easier with a united party, but another important factor is fundraising.

During 2016, a presidential election year, he hopes to boost fundraising by the RPV to between $4 million and $5 million. He said fundraising fluctuates from year to year, but the party anticipates bring in about $3 million in 2015.

As a swing state, Virginia will be an important battleground for those campaigning for president.

The Republican National Committee “will be helping us a lot in setting up our structure in Virginia,” Whitbeck said.

He hopes Virginia will draw a lot of big names for fundraising. Rick Perry, the former governor of Texas, has already been announced as keynote speaker at the RPV Commonwealth Dinner on Feb. 24 in Richmond.

“That is going to raise a ton of money for the party,” Whitbeck said.

Technology will also be a key component in the party’s success in Virginia, he said. In the U.S. Senate race last fall, Republican nominee Ed Gillespie made effective use of technology in almost upsetting incumbent Democrat Mark Warner.

“If you look at the exceptional campaign run by Gillespie, you had innovative digital technology being used and innovative ideas on how to use technology,” Whitbeck said.

Whitbeck said he has already begun reaching out to donors who in the past supported Republicans like Gillespie, Bob McDonnell and George Allen.

Pat Mullins, 77, preceded Whitbeck as party chairman. He announced his retirement just after the November election; it took effect after Whitbeck was elected.

“We’ve had our highs and lows – winning elections and losing elections – and regardless of the outcome,” Mullins said in an email that publicly announced his retirement. “I’m more convinced than ever … that the people of Virginia and the citizens of the United States are desperately seeking consistent conservative governance.”

Whitbeck is looking forward to the 2016 presidential race. As the new face of Virginia’s GOP, he said a financially strong RPV will be crucial in turning Virginia red after it voted twice for Barack Obama.

“A strong RPV could’ve made the difference for Ken Cuccinelli,” Whitbeck said. “A strong RPV could’ve made the difference for Mitt Romney.”