PR20080317 June Primaries

For Immediate Release

  For More Information:
Susan S. Pollard, APR
Director of Communications
Office: 804-786-0282
Mobile: 804-641-9199

PRIMARIES TO BE HELD FOR MOST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

RICHMOND, VA – In June, most of the eleven Congressional Districts in Virginia will hold Democratic and Republican primary elections. For the seat in the U.S. Senate and a position on the Arlington County Board, only a Democratic primary will be held. Both parties chose to have primary elections for most of the Congressional Districts in order to determine their party’s candidate for the November elections.
 
A Democratic primary election, to determine the party’s candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, will be held in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th, 10th, and 11th Congressional Districts.
 
A Republican primary election, to determine the party’s candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, will be held in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Congressional Districts.

The primaries will be held on June 10, 2008 for any office where more than one candidate filed and was certified by the Party Chair. This week was the deadline for political parties to notify the State Board of Elections of their desire to hold a primary to select their nominees for offices on the ballot this November. If parties did not choose a primary, their nominee will be selected by a convention, caucus, or other method as described in their state party plan. Primaries are funded by the taxpayers, whereas other party nominations are funded by the political parties. If only one candidate filed for an office that candidate is determined to be the nominee for the party.
 
Candidates seeking to be on a ballot may begin filing at noon on March 25. All candidates must file their petitions by 5:00 p.m. on April 11. Primary candidates for the U.S. Senate must file with the State Board of Elections and candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives must file with the Congressional District Chair of their political party; while those running for local office must file with their county or city chair. Both the Democratic and Republican parties are required to certify their respective primary candidates by 5:00 p.m. on April 16 in order to have those names included on the appropriate primary election ballot.
 
For more information visit the Virginia State Board of Elections web site at www.sbe.virginia.gov.