Notes from the 2025 Campaign Trail: RPV Chairman's Election & Statewide Candidate Update

Sen. Mark Peake Elected RPV Chairman; Chase & LaRock Fail to Qualify in #VAGov Primary

This is the second post in a series of ongoing reflections and observations from Virginia’s 2025 elections, where voters will elect a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, 100 Members of the House of Delegates, and numerous down-ballot local officials.

State Senator Mark Peake (R-Lynchburg) was overwhelmingly elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) earlier today at a meeting in Richmond of the RPV’s State Central Committee (SCC). Senator Peake, who ran against Loudoun County Republican Committee Chairman Scott Pio, won 62-to-15, according members of the SCC.

Senator Peake will fill the unexpired term of immediate past Chairman Rich Anderson, who was nominated by President Donald J. Trump to serve as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Air Force. The term runs until the RPV Convention in 2028. (An earlier version of this post indicated the Chairman’s term ran until 2026.)

Anderson’s nomination was received in the U.S. Senate and referred to the Armed Services Committee on March 10th; however, no further action has taken place.

The outcome of the race for RPV Chairman was hardly in question, with Senator Peake earning the early support of Governor Glenn Youngkin — an endorsement that served as a nod to members of the RPV’s governing body.

Loudoun County Republican Committee Chairman Scott Pio, who released a comprehensive plan, received a smattering of support from grassroots conservative activists. Pio is frequently at odds with RPV leadership for his sometimes unconventional tactics.

As a Unit Committee Chairman in Northern Virginia, I often take pro-active, aggressive steps to advance Republican principles in Arlington, so I admire Pio’s tenacity. I won’t presume to tell another Unit Committee Chair how to run his or her Committee.

I’m not a member of RPV’s State Central Committee, and — while I work closely with RPV staff — the outcome of the Chairman’s race has very little impact on my work in Arlington.

Congratulations to Senator Peake on his election as RPV Chairman, and I hope he implements some of the ideas put forward by Loudoun County Republican Committee Chairman Scott Pio.

The more important question in this development is, who will newly-elected RPV Chairman Mark Peake hire as RPV Executive Director? Outgoing Executive Director Ken Nunnenkamp, Jr., departed to take a position with the State Senate Republican Caucus, according to a March 7th email from then-RPV Chairman Rich Anderson.

While the RPV Chairman plays an important role in Party leadership, the Executive Director makes many of the day-to-day decisions of the RPV. In the midst of a critical gubernatorial election cycle, it’s important the new Executive Director hits the ground running.

Speaking of the gubernatorial election, the deadline to successfully file to gain access to the primary ballot for statewide and legislative races was Thursday, April 3rd, and current Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears was the only Republican to qualify for the ballot in the race for governor.

Both former State Senator Amanda Chase and former Delegate Dave LaRock mounted spirited, grassroots-driven efforts but ultimately fell short of the necessary signature threshold to qualify for the ballot.

While Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity submitted 15,000 ballot access petition signatures (5,000 more than required) on March 17th, it’s unclear if either of the other announced candidates for lieutenant governor will appear on the primary ballot alongside Herrity. The Virginia Department of Elections announced the Primary Elections candidate lists will be posted next week.

Current Attorney General Jason Miyares was the only candidate to successfully file for the Republican nomination for Attorney General, so he joins Winsome Earle-Sears as the de facto Republican nominee in their respective races.

At the close of the 1st Quarter (2025) fundraising period, which ended on March 31st, Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears announced she raised $3.1 million for the period, while Fairfax Supervisor Herrity announced he raised over $500,000 in the same period. Attorney General Jason Miyares has not yet announced his 1st Quarter haul.

With 66 days to go before the June 17th primary, the statewide race for Republicans is coming into focus, and we have our work cut out for us. I encourage you to become a member of your local Unit Committee and/or volunteer and contribute to the Republican candidate of your choice — especially in Northern Virginia.