Corey Stewart Begins Northern Virginia GOP Gubernatorial Campaign Monday in Woodbridge

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Prince William County Board of Supervisors chairman Corey Stewart begins his Northern Virginia campaign for the GOP gubernatorial nomination tonight at 7 at Bistro L'hermitage, 12724 Occoquan Road in Woodbridge.

Stewart, according to his campaign, will outline his plan to "Take Back Virginia."

Former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie has a sizable lead among his potential opponents for Virginia's Republican nomination in the 2017 race but lags behind presumptive Democratic nominee Ralph Northam, according to a Quinnipiac poll released last month.

Gillespie, who narrowly lost his bid to unseat popular Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, leads the field at 24 percent, followed by U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman at 10 percent, and Stewart and state Sen. Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach, both of whom had 4 percent.

Wittman dropped out of the primary race last month while the poll was being conducted.

Stewart was the campaign manager in Virginia for now-president Donald Trump until being fired in October after a protest "stunt" outside RNC headquarters in D.C.

Trump lost Virginia to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Photo: Corey Stewart for Governor