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It’s total disarray in the bruising VA-02 Republican primary, where “establishment pick” Jen Kiggans is sprinting further to the right every day in an effort to win her contest against America First candidate Jarome Bell.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Kiggans was forced to answer for her increasingly extreme record as she attempts to win over Trump’s base – including a vote for a $70 million taxpayer-funded audit of Virginia’s 2020 election, though Kiggans “would not say whether she herself believed there was fraud in the 2020 election in Virginia necessitating an audit.”
Read more about the bruising VA-02 primary contest below:
Washington Post: Trump’s influence casts shadow in Virginia’s 2nd District race
By Meagan Flynn
March 30, 2022
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“Without much fanfare last month, Kiggans was one of just four Republicans in the state Senate to vote to support a $70 million ‘full forensic audit’ of the 2020 election in Virginia — a vote that most starkly highlights the influence that Trump and his perpetual false claims of voter fraud have retained over Republican candidates even in competitive swing districts like the 2nd District, where he lost.”
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“Bell, meanwhile, is seeking to siphon away enough of the ‘Make America Great Again’ vote to pose a threat to Kiggans, branding himself as the ‘America First’ candidate and using divisive rhetoric that has alarmed some within his own local party. Despite fringe positions, he’s raised more than $300,000 and picked up endorsements from some of Congress’s most far-right congressmen, Reps. Bob Good (Va.) and Paul A. Gosar (Ariz.).”
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“[Kiggans] undoubtedly needs Trump’s base in the primary before she can set her sights on challenging Luria and wooing swing voters who will be more essential in the general election[.]”
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“The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has been lining up repeated attacks over it, saying in an email blast Tuesday that Kiggans ‘plants her flag further to the extreme right as she and Jarome Bell scramble to win over the same primary voters,’ citing her vote on the audit.”
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“Kiggans has acknowledged Biden was legitimately elected, but when questioned she would not say whether she herself believed there was fraud in the 2020 election in Virginia necessitating an audit […] There is no evidence of significant fraud affecting the outcome of the 2020 election in Virginia or elsewhere, and the state performed its own audit last year affirming the results.”
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“The senator has otherwise assiduously avoided discussing Trump, or the 2020 election, or Jan. 6.”
Virginia Scope: VA-02 is gaining attention ahead of the June primary
By Brandon Jarvis
March 30, 2022
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“State Sen. Jen Kiggans (R) and Jarome Bell (R) are racing to the right as they try to earn the Republican nomination to run against Rep. Elaine Luria (D) in VA-02 later this year.”
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“Bell is a strong Trump supporter and has called for the execution of 2020 election officials. Kiggans has in general been a moderate Republican during her time as a state senator which is something that isn’t always helpful during the nomination process. During the last year, she has been moving to the right – especially on election issues – by being one of four state Senators to support Amanda Chase in her efforts to audit the 2020 election results.”
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“Kiggans also would not answer the Washington Post recently when asked if she believes there was fraud in 2020.”
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