ELECTIONS AND VOTING | GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2022

Youngkin says he intends to replace Virginia’s top election official

State board chair calls expected firing ‘a slap in the face’ to election workers

BY: GRAHAM MOOMAW - JANUARY 25, 2022 3:13 PM

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Monday he plans to appoint someone new to serve as Virginia’s top election official when current Elections Commissioner Chris Piper’s four-year term expires this summer. ... The comment from Youngkin, made in an interview with Trump-supporting radio host John Fredericks, was the first clear indication from the new governor on what he has planned for the Virginia Department of Elections.

?t=1148

In the interview, Fredericks asked Youngkin if he plans to “clean house” at the agency. ... “We in fact fully expect that when the current commissioner’s term is up that we will replace him,” Youngkin replied. “We have to make sure the leadership that’s in the Department of Elections is leadership that is looking out for the integrity of the election process and not trying to be political.” ... Youngkin’s comment drew a rebuke from current Board of Elections Chairman Bob Brink, a former Democratic delegate who said Piper has led the agency “through the extraordinary challenges of the past several years with unquestioned integrity and professionalism.”

{snip}

State law gives incoming governors the power to appoint their own elections commissioner starting July 1 after a gubernatorial election year. Former Govs. Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam both made their own hires for the job after taking office. The commissioner, who must be a qualified Virginia voter, works closely with the state elections board to administer elections, review and certify voting equipment and coordinate with local election offices. By law, a majority of the

Kay Coles James, Youngkin’s appointee for secretary of the commonwealth, was already questioned about her past remarks on election issues when she appeared before the House Privileges and Elections Committee earlier this month.

In a commentary published on the website of the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank she used to lead, Coles James said “fraud, mismanagement and last-minute election rules changes” had “caused those on the right to question the electoral process and Joe Biden’s legitimacy as president.” Coles James also said “Americans should be rightfully concerned about reports of fraud and abuse” in a tweet posted just after the 2020 presidential contest. board seats also go to the governor’s political party.

Link to tweet

{snip}

GRAHAM MOOMAW
gmoomaw@virginiamercury.com
https://twitter.com/gmoomaw
A veteran Virginia politics reporter, Graham grew up in Hillsville and Lynchburg, graduating from James Madison University and earning a master's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland. Before joining the Mercury in 2019, he spent six years at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, most of that time covering the governor's office, the General Assembly and state politics. He also covered city hall and politics at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville. Contact him at gmoomaw@virginiamercury.com

PS: Piper says Youngkin's comment on conservative radio was the first he's heard of the new administration's plans for him.