Politics & Government
Del. Rich Anderson Against GOP Loyalty Oath
Anderson said the oath may deter many Republican voters from voting in the primary.
Del. Richard Anderson (R-51) has joined Gov. Bob McDonnell in taking a stand against the recently approved GOP loyalty oath for the Virginia presidential primary on March 6.
The loyalty oath means that voters would have to sign a pledge stating that they would support the GOP nominee in the general election. If they did not sign the pledge, they would not be allowed to vote in the Republican primary.
"I believe this provision cannot be enforced and that it has the unintended potential for chilling Republican participation in the March presidential primary," Anderson said in a statement. He called upon the Republican Party of Virginia to eliminate the oath requirement.
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Anderson also said that the Republican Party of Virginia's chairman, Pat Mullins, had called a "special meeting of the State Central Committee on Jan. 21 to reconsider this loyalty oath requirement."
"My hope is that State Central will rescind the requirement and return to the process followed in previous election cycles," Anderson said.
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