2011 Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney election
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 Precinct results
Taylor: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2011 Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney election was held on November 8, 2015, to elect the Commonwealth's Attorney of Henrico County, Virginia, concurrently with elections to the Senate of Virginia and Virginia House of Delegates. Incumbent Republican Commonwealth's Attorney Wade A. Kizer announced that he would be retiring from the position, making it an open contest.[1] Republicans Matthew Geary and Bill Janis[a] and Democrat Shannon Taylor all ran for Attorney, with Taylor beating both in the general election.[2]
Republican attorney Wade A. Kizer, who had been in office since 2000, announced his candidacy for the next term in 2009, while attorney Matthew Geary went against him for the Republican primary.[3] Geary won against Kizer in the Republican primary, with many Republicans against the endorsement. In 2010, Kizer announced that he would not be running for another term and that he would retire from the office.[4] On August 11, 2011, the same day as the 5.8 earthquake in Virginia, attorney Shannon Taylor announced her candidacy for the Commonwealth's Attorney.[5] Days later, Republican Bill Janis entered the race as an Independent politician, dropping his bid for another term for the Virginia House of Delegates.[6][7][8][9]
The Republican Party of Virginia started questioning Geary's leadership after he admitted to an extramarital affair. The Republican Party of Virginia withdrew their endorsement of Geary and endorsed Janis instead.[10][11][12] The Henrico County Executive Committee called Geary "an angry and volatile candidate”, and one of his consultants, Amanda Chase, left the campaign.[13][14]
Republican primary
Declared
- Matthew Geary, prosecutor and former Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney for Richmond (2006–2009)
Withdrew
- Wade A. Kizer, incumbent Commonwealth's Attorney[4]
Endorsements
Eric Cantor, House Majority Leader (2011–2014)(withdrew support)[15]Republican Party of Virginia(withdrew support)[15]
Democratic primary
- Shannon Taylor, attorney
Endorsements
- Joe Morrissey, member of the Virginia House of Delegates (2007–2014)[16][17]