Denver Riggleman
Denver Riggleman | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Denver Riggleman at the 2018 Young Americans for Liberty National Convention | |
| Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th district | |
| Assuming office January 3, 2019 | |
| Succeeding | Tom Garrett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 17, 1970 Manassas, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Christine Riggleman |
| Education | University of Virginia |
Denver Riggleman (born March 17, 1970) is an American businessman and politician from the state of Virginia. He is the Representative-elect for Virginia's 5th Congressional district. A former U.S. Air Force officer and National Security Agency contractor, Riggleman opened a craft distillery in Virginia in 2014. He ran for the Republican Party nomination for Governor of Virginia in the 2017 gubernatorial election, but withdrew from the race.
Early life and education
Riggleman was born March 17, 1970, in Manassas, Virginia.[1][2] He graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School and the University of Virginia.[2]
Career
Riggleman was in the U.S. Air Force for eleven years in the Air Force, serving as an intelligence officer. Riggleman then worked as a contractor for the National Security Agency.[2]
In 2014, Riggleman and his wife opened Silverback Distillery, a craft distillery in Afton, Virginia, outside Charlottesville.[2][3] The Shenandoah Valley facility encompasses 50 acres.[2] Riggleman has pushed for deregulation of distilleries in the state and changes to the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control; together with other distillers, the Riggmans established a "loosely formed distillers guild" and hired a lobbyist to press for changes.[3] Riggleman has "criticized the state’s alcohol and tax laws as unfairly harsh toward spirits producers and spoke[n] of a new 'whiskey rebellion.'"[4]
Political career and positions
In December 2016, Riggleman filed papers to seek the Republican nomination for governor of Virginia in the 2017 gubernatorial election. His opponents in the Republican primary were Republican strategist Ed Gillespie; Prince William County Board of Supervisors chairman Corey Stewart; and state Senator Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach.[2] Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam and former U.S. Representative Tom Perriello sought the Democratic nomination.[5] Riggleman suspended his campaign on March 16, 2017.[1]
In the 2018 elections, he is the Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives election for Virginia's 5th congressional district. Riggleman defeated Cynthia Dunbar, who had just lost the Republican nomination in the 6th district just weeks before, in the final round of voting to get the Republican nomination.[6]
During the campaign, Leslie Cockburn, his Democratic rival, accused him of of being a "devotee of Bigfoot erotica", based on an image he shared from his Instagram, ostensibly to promote a book titled The Mating Habits of Bigfoot and Why Women Want Him.[7] Riggleman stated that the image was an obvious joke, but that he had an interest in Bigfoot, and co-authored the actual self-published book Bigfoot Exterminators, Inc.: The Partially Cautionary, Mostly True Tale of Monster Hunt 2006, with ESPN writer Don Barone.[8]
Personal life
Riggleman is married to Christine Riggleman.[2]
References
- ^ a b Vozzella, Laura (March 16, 2017). "Populist candidate Denver Riggleman drops out of GOP race for Virginia governor". Washington Post.
- ^ a b c d e f g Portnoy, Jenna (December 28, 2016). "A fourth Republican enters the race for Virginia governor". Washington Post.
- ^ a b Portnoy, Jenna (February 14, 2016). "Va.'s growing craft distillery industry pushes against regulatory roadblocks". Washington Post.
- ^ Moomaw, Graham (December 10, 2016). "As Trump era dawns, 2017 Virginia GOP hopefuls court supporters at gathering in Richmond". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
- ^ Schneider, Gregory S. (February 2, 2017). "In Va. race for governor, Northam faces Trump voters, aggressive opponent and his own genteel nature". Washington Post.
- ^ WRABEL, ALLISON. "Riggleman selected as GOP nominee in 5th District". Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ Roberts, Molly (July 31, 2018). "Okay, let's talk about Bigfoot erotica". Washington Post.
- ^ Stack, Liam (July 30, 2018). "'Bigfoot Erotica' Becomes an Issue in Virginia Congressional Campaign". New York Times.
External links
