Outgoing Virginia Delegate Joe May confirmed that he is running for the Republican nomination in the 33rd Senate District in Northern Virginia. A special election for that seat will take place if Democrat Mark Herring wins a recount in the Virginia Attorney General race against Republican Mark Obenshain. Herring, a state senator, recently was certified by the State Board of Elections as the next Attorney General with a 165 vote margin and a recount will take place in the coming weeks.

Joe May is the most recent candidate to announce that he’s jumping into the possible open senate race. The 20-year incumbent in the House of Delegates was defeated this past spring by conservative Taxpayer Protection Pledge signer Dave LaRock. May was one of the architects of Speaker Bill Howell and Governor Bob McDonnell’s $6 billion tax hike, which raised a myriad of taxes in the Commonwealth.

ATR President Grover Norquist noted at the time, “Make no mistake. House Transportation Committee Chair Joe May's defeat can be directly attributed to his vote for Speaker Bill Howell's misguided $6 billion tax hike”

As the Loudon Times-Mirror noted this spring, “LaRock received a boost from Americans for Tax Reform during his primary campaign. The group launched JoeMayLovesTaxes.com and funded roadside signs calling May a “serial tax hiker” in the weeks leading up to the election.”

LaRock, who won with 57% of the vote made May’s vote for higher taxes the key issue in the race. 

Two other Republicans have already announced that they are running for the seat should it become open as well. Republican chairman of the 10th Congressional District and Leesburg attorney John Whitbeck announced on November 25th and Herndon resident Ron Meyer announced the following day.

Stay tuned regarding Americans for Tax Reform's plan to educate voters about Joe May's tax-hiking record.