New governor of scandal-plagued Virginia could be decided by way of ceramic bowl

[civilwarbuff]

This gets curiouser and curiouser……..
With Virginia's governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general all mired in political scandal and facing calls to resign, the state's next chief executive could be a Republican -- all because a name was randomly picked out of a ceramic bowl two years ago.

Should Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam step aside because of the blackface photograph that recently surfaced in his medical school yearbook, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax would be next in line to succeed him -- except that a newly revived sexual-assault allegation has put his political future in doubt. Freshman Virginia Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton tweeted her support for Fairfax's accuser on Wednesday, writing: "I believe Dr. Vanessa Tyson."

Also on Wednesday, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, the next in the line of succession, posted a lengthy statement admitting he, too, had donned blackface -- this, during a college party in 1980. He said he'd brown makeup and a wig to look like a black rapper during a party at the University of Virginia.
New governor of scandal-plagued Virginia could be decided by way of ceramic bowl

 

[redleghunter]

Wow.

 

[civilwarbuff]

Maybe Virginia should change its motto to: Virginia is for losers

 

[Albion]

Except that it isn't that blurry or haphazard. The state constitution apparently names Kirk Cox, the speaker of the Virginia House, as the successor if the first three in line are out. The ceramic bowl thing is an interesting but not entirely unheard of kind of oddity, but the line of succession in the case of vacancies is apparently as clear cut as it is in any other state.

Besides, it will not come to that anyway. There is no way that all three of these men will resign, and there wont be impeachments or anything like that with only a few months left before the next election and with their party holding a legislative majority.

 

[Gigimo]

Maybe Virginia should change its motto to: Virginia is for losers

The AG will be the first to go that way Northam can appoint someone with a "spotless" record then the other 2 will fall on their swords and the Virginia Governorship will remain Democrat.

 

[civilwarbuff]

Doesn't the legislature have to sign off on that?....and aren't they still barely repub?

The AG will be the first to go that way Northam can appoint someone with a "spotless" record then the other 2 will fall on their swords and the Virginia Governorship will remain Democrat.

 

[Gigimo]

Doesn't the legislature have to sign off on that?....and aren't they still barely repub?

You aren't expecting them to play by the rules are you??

 

[Gigimo]

The AG will be the first to go that way Northam can appoint someone with a "spotless" record then the other 2 will fall on their swords and the Virginia Governorship will remain Democrat.

Doesn't the legislature have to sign off on that?....and aren't they still barely repub?

Or they just ignore all of the allegations (their hypocritical party circles the wagons around them) and they'll remain in office, which is what is happening as we speak.

 

[EpiscipalMe]

Or they just ignore all of the allegations (their hypocritical party circles the wagons around them) and they'll remain in office, which is what is happening as we speak.

Who is circling the wagons?
Ralph Northam called on to resign by Democrats, Republicans, other public figures

 

[Gigimo]

Who is circling the wagons?
Ralph Northam called on to resign by Democrats, Republicans, other public figures

That article was written when it first happened since then nothing, so he's going to ride it out and remain Governor if at all possible knowing some folks have short memories and no backbone.

 

[redleghunter]

That article was written when it first happened since then nothing, so he's going to ride it out and remain Governor if at all possible knowing some folks have short memories and no backbone.

I'm surprised given the outrage why there has been no concerted effort to recall him.

One OPED I saw does call for either resignation or recall. Virginia law does allow for recall of state representatives and governor but there is no precedent to draw information from. However, the state constitution allows for impeachment of governor.

Laws governing recall in Virginia - Ballotpedia

 

[Gigimo]

I'm surprised given the outrage why there has been no concerted effort to recall him.

Politics trumps everything with some people, they could care less what stupid things he's done as long as he's been doing what they want/pay him to do.

 

[Archivist]

It seems to me that Virginia should be called East Virginia, and the portion of Virginia that remained loyal to the Union--West Virginia--should have kept the Virginia name.