Following attacks from Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam and Virginia Democrats, Senator Frank Wagner (USN, Ret.) and Senator John Cosgrove (USN) issued the following joint statement.
“We are dismayed to see a candidate, especially one from Hampton Roads, attack Ed Gillespie for saying he will work with President Trump to ensure Norfolk remains the largest Naval base in the world, secure approval to dredge the channel in our port, and build more ships and submarines in Newport News.
“Virginians should be deeply concerned that Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam has put his campaign ahead of the policies that are in the best interest of Virginians. Virginia needs a governor who is eager to work with President Trump, not be at odds with him. Lieutenant Governor Northam has not only made clear he is unwilling to work with President Trump but his relentless name calling and hyper-partisan rhetoric has all but assured any working relationship between Northam and the federal government would be inconceivable. That’s bad for Virginia, plain and simple. Someone from Hampton Roads should know better.”
While the Lieutenant Governor has engaged in petty name calling, Ed Gillespie has been focused on sharing his vision for Virginia, releasing detailed policies that will create good-paying jobs and get our economy growing again.
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) concluded that the federal government spends more per person in Virginia than all but one other state, saying “federal spending accounts for about 20 percent of the state’s economy…Military spending was by far the largest category of federal spending.”