Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's (D) political action committee, The Way Ahead PAC, donated $85,000 to Democratic candidates throughout the state. What's interesting, however, is that four of the Democrats Northam's PAC donated to – Kelly Fowler, Dawn Adams, Schuyler VanValkenburg and John Bell – called for the governor's resignation.
Politicians on all ends of the political spectrum called for Northam's resignation in January and February after a yearbook photo of Northam resurfaced. One person in the photo was dressed in blackface, the other was dressed in Klu Klux Klan garb. Northam originally admitted to being in the photo but then denied it.
"Anything less than resignation is unacceptable," Fowler told the Nation in early February.
"[Northam] must resign. He has lost the confidence of the New Virginia, our diverse, dynamic growing Commonwealth. The Virginia my family knows and loves," VanValkenburg said on Twitter. "He rightfully no longer has the consent of the governed. He should do the honorable thing and step aside."
Adams joined other LBGT lawmakers in calling for Northam's resignation.
"I stand with the Virginia Black Caucus and the Virginia House Democrats and also call for Governor Northam to resign," Bell said on Twitter.
Although the four candidates called for Northam's resignation, they had no problem accepting donations from his PAC, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
Fowler, Adams and VanValkenburg are incumbents running for reelection to the House of Delegates and each received $5,000 from the PAC. Delegate Bell, who is running for State Senate, received $15,000.
The other candidates running for the House of Delegates include Alex Askew, Larry Barnett, Sheila Bynum Coleman, Nancy Guy, Clint Jenkins, Karen Mallard, Shelly Simonds, and Rodney Willett, all of whom received $5,000 contributions. Missy Cotter Smasal, who is running for State Senate, received a $15,000 donation.
Democrats in Virginia are focused on retaking the State Senate and House of Delegates because of the slim GOP majority. Their goal is to have Democratic control in all three state level branches. If they succeed, it would be the first time Democrats in Virginia had control over all three branches of state government in 26 years.
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