Corey Stewart (politician)

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Corey Stewart
Corey Stewart (Chairman, Prince William County, VA), Nov 2016.jpg
Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors
Assumed office
December 4, 2006
Preceded by Sean Connaughton
Occoquan District Supervisor
In office
November 6, 2003 – December 4, 2006
Preceded by Ruth Griggs
Succeeded by Michael May
Personal details
Born Corey Alan Stewart
(1968-08-01) August 1, 1968 (age 49)
Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Maria Stewart
Children 2
Residence Woodbridge, Virginia, U.S.
Education Georgetown University (BS)
William Mitchell College of Law (JD)
Website Official website

Corey Stewart (born August 1, 1968) is an American lawyer and politician currently serving his fourth term as At-Large Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Prince William County, Virginia.

Stewart drew national media attention for spearheading Prince William County's 2007 crackdown on illegal immigrants.[1][2]

In December 2015, Stewart was hired as the Virginia chairman of the Donald Trump for President campaign, and in June 2016 was appointed to co-Chair the Republican Party of Virginia's "Team Virginia" field and communications campaign.[3][4] In October 2016, Stewart was fired by the Trump campaign following his participation in an unsanctioned protest against the Republican National Committee.[5]

In 2017, Stewart unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor of Virginia, narrowly losing to Ed Gillespie. He drew media attention for his admission that his campaign staff had edited his Wikipedia page to add positive spin, and for his use of the word "cuckservative" in a Reddit AMA.[6][7]

On July 13, 2017, Stewart announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for United States Senate.[8]

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors[edit]

Elections[edit]

Stewart was first elected as Chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors in a November 2006 special election to replace Sean Connaughton (who resigned to take a post at the United States Maritime Administration).[9] Stewart defeated Democratic Party candidate Sharon Pandak with 53% of the vote.[10] Stewart was elected to a full term in 2007 with 55% of the vote,[11] re-elected in 2011, and re-elected to serve a third term in 2015 with 57% of the vote.[12]

Immigration[edit]

After Stewart took his seat as chairman in 2007, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution designed to purge the county of undocumented immigrants; the new law allowed the Prince William County Police Department to check the immigration status of anyone, even if they were not suspected of wrongdoing. Additionally, the Board directed county staff to cut off public services to illegal immigrants, including drug counseling, elderly services, services to the homeless, and business licenses.[13][14] A year later, the law was amended to require local law enforcement officers to arrest people before they could enforce federal immigration law.[15][16][14]

The county's targeting of illegal immigrants was the subject of a 2009 documentary film, 9500 Liberty.[17]

Gun control[edit]

Stewart led the successful effort to eliminate Prince William County's concealed-carry handgun permit fee, reducing the overall cost to lawful handgun owners from $50 to the state minimum of $15.[18][19]

Political campaigns[edit]

Lieutenant Governor of Virginia[edit]

See also: Republican Party of Virginia convention, 2013

Stewart unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in the 2013 election.[20] In a seven-person race, Stewart was eliminated in the third round of voting in the Republican convention, losing to E. W. Jackson.[21][22]

Trump presidential campaign[edit]

See also: United States presidential election in Virginia, 2016

In December 2015, Republican U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump announced that he had chosen Stewart to chair his campaign in Virginia.[2] Stewart has been an outspoken proponent for Trump in national media, and continued to support Trump even as other Republican officials disavowed him after various controversies, including the Access Hollywood scandal.[23][24] In June 2016, the Republican Party of Virginia selected Stewart to co-chair its "Team Virginia" field and communications campaign, alongside former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore.[4][25]

Stewart drew controversy in July 2016 when he blamed "liberal Democrats" including Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam for the spree killing of police officers in Dallas, Texas.[26]

On October 10, 2016, amid reports that the Republican National Committee was withdrawing resources from the Trump campaign to focus on down-ballot races, Stewart joined a pro-Trump women's demonstration in front of the Committee's Washington, D.C. headquarters.[27] Following the protest, Stewart was fired by Trump Campaign CEO Steve Bannon to "placate" RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, who was reportedly "infuriated" by Stewart's actions.[28] Days later, the RNC and the Trump Campaign announced that they were withdrawing from Virginia, again drawing the ire of Stewart, who blasted the decision as a betrayal of the grassroots and "totally premature."[29] Despite his firing, he continued to support Donald Trump.[30]

Governor of Virginia[edit]

Main article: Virginia gubernatorial election, 2017

At the Virginia State Republican Convention on April 30, 2016, Stewart announced his intent to run for Governor of Virginia.[31] Quentin Kidd of Christopher Newport University called Stewart "on the very conservative end" of the Republican candidates for governor in 2017.[31]

In December 2016, Stewart announced that his campaign for Governor of Virginia would give away an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle for Christmas to highlight his support for Constitutional carry in Virginia, which would enable law-abiding citizens to conceal carry handguns without a permit.[32]

In March 2017, Stewart admitted that he and his campaign had been editing his Wikipedia page since at least May 2014 to remove unflattering information and add positive spin, through at least two registered accounts.[33] On the same day, during a Reddit AMA, Stewart called his GOP primary opponent Ed Gillespie a cuckservative, agreed with a questioner that asked if Bill Clinton was a rapist, and wrote “CONFIRMED!” to a questioner who asked if Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe "is a cuck".[34] Virginia GOP chairman John Whitbeck rebuked the remarks, calling some of Stewart's language "racist", and noted that the term "cuckservative" is “used by white nationalists.”[34]

In a poll of GOP primary voters conducted March 16–26, 2017, Stewart had the support of 11% of registered voters, trailing Gillespie's 38%. State Senator Frank Wagner drew 10% in the same poll.[35] A subsequent poll conducted between May 9-14 showed Stewart with the support of 18% of GOP primary voters, with Gillespie still showing 38% and Wagner moving up to 15%. 24% were still undecided while 5% chose none of the candidates. In the same poll, 7% of Virginia Republicans felt Stewart had the best chance of winning the general election, compared to 60% who felt Gillespie did.[36]

On June 13, Stewart narrowly lost the primary to Gillespie, garnering 155,466 votes (42.5%) to Gillespie's 160,003 (43.7%).[37][38]

Following the primary, Stewart remained critical of Gillespie, calling him "boring" and claiming that "nobody cares" about Gillespie's immigrant ancestry.[39] Stewart later endorsed Gillespie and campaigned for the Republican Party's nominee for Lieutenant Governor, Jill Vogel.[40][41]

United States Senate election, 2018[edit]

Main article: United States Senate election in Virginia, 2018

On July 15, 2017, Stewart announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for the United States Senate seat currently held by Democrat Tim Kaine.[42] He promised a "very vicious, ruthless race," claiming that Republicans "are looking for a more aggressive populist candidate."[43] Former Republican lieutenant governor Bill Bolling stated, “This is really a nightmare for the Republican Party.”[44] In December 2017, it was reported that the Republican Party of Virginia leadership was "maneuvering with help from the national GOP" to block a potential Stewart nomination.[45]

On December 5, 2017, Stewart received the endorsement of Jerry Falwell Jr., President of Liberty University.[46] Conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham and former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon have also expressed their support for Stewart, with Bannon having previously referred to Stewart as the "titular head of the Trump movement" in Virginia.[47][48]

In a tweet on December 8, 2017, Stewart drew criticism for reviving the birther conspiracy by suggesting that former President Barack Obama's birth certificate and Roy Moore accuser Beverly Nelson's yearbook were forgeries.[49]

Following a vote in the Virginia House of Delegates to expand Medicaid in February 2018, Stewart led an event outside the Virginia State Capitol where he held up rolls of toilet paper and called Republicans who voted for the measure "flaccid" and "garbage". When asked to clarify his comments by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Stewart replied, "I’m suggesting I feel sorry for their wives."[50] The move brought strong condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans in the House of Delegates. Among those who condemned Stewart's remarks was Republican Delegate Glenn Davis, who referred to Stewart in a speech on the House floor as a "charlatan whose record doesn’t match his rhetoric." Davis' speech drew bipartisan applause from the chamber.[51]

Personal life[edit]

Stewart is a native of Duluth, Minnesota.[52] He transferred to Georgetown University after a year at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, and was the first member of his family to graduate from college.[53] He also graduated from the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, and afterwards settled in Virginia.[53] Stewart works as an international trade attorney, and he and his family live in Bel Air, a historic colonial-era plantation house in Woodbridge, Virginia that was regularly visited by Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.[53] He met his wife, Maria, who is from Sweden, while spending a year teaching English in Japan before law school.[53] The couple has two sons.[53]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Legacy of Anti-Immigrant Corey Stewart". America's Voice. 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2017-03-23. 
  2. ^ a b Olivo, Antonio (December 16, 2015). "Why Donald Trump chose Corey Stewart to chair his Virginia campaign". Washington Post. Retrieved 29 April 2017. 
  3. ^ "Chairman of Prince William Co. Board Named Trump's Va. Campaign Chair". 2015-12-15. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  4. ^ a b Times-Dispatch, GRAHAM MOOMAW Richmond. "Trump's Va. chairman tapped to help shape RPV strategy for November". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  5. ^ Laura Vozzella, This Virginia politico was fired by the Trump team — but it could help him, Washington Post (October 15, 2016).
  6. ^ CNN, Andrew Kaczynski and Nathan McDermott,. "Virginia gubernatorial candidate removed unflattering info from Wikipedia page". CNN. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  7. ^ "I'm Corey Stewart. Ask Me Anything. • r/The_Donald". reddit. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  8. ^ Times-Dispatch, PATRICK WILSON Richmond. "UPDATED: Corey Stewart announces run for Tim Kaine's Senate seat". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  9. ^ Kunkle, Frederick (October 8, 2006). "Candidates Differ on Approach To Growth". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 10, 2011. 
  10. ^ "Virginia Elections Database » 2006 Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Special General Election Prince William County". Retrieved 26 April 2017. 
  11. ^ "Virginia Elections Database » 2007 Chairman of the Board of Supervisors General Election Prince William County". Retrieved 26 April 2017. 
  12. ^ "2015 November General". Retrieved 26 April 2017. 
  13. ^ Urbina, Ian; Newman, Maria (2007-10-17). "Virginia County Votes to Deny Services to Illegal Immigrants". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-02-16. 
  14. ^ a b Osnos, Evan (2016-10-17). "Tim Kaine's Radical Optimism". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2018-02-16. 
  15. ^ Ingber, Sasha (2014-08-16). "Undocumented Children Fuel New Tension on Immigration in Virginia". National Geographic. Retrieved 2018-02-08. 
  16. ^ "Immigration crackdown in Prince William is a cautionary tale". Washington Post. 2014-08-16. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-02-08. 
  17. ^ Montgomery, David (2010-09-25). ""9500 Liberty" looks back at Prince William immigration wars". ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-02-16. 
  18. ^ Palermo, Jill (February 23, 2016). "Prince William supervisors slash price for concealed carry permits". Inside Nova. 
  19. ^ Hunley, Jonathan (February 28, 2016). "Prince William board reduces concealed-handgun permit fees". The Washington Post. 
  20. ^ Antonio Olivo, Why Donald Trump chose Corey Stewart to chair his Virginia campaign, Washington Post (December 16, 2015).
  21. ^ Jill Palermon, UPDATED: Corey Stewart eliminated as GOP candidate for lieutenant governor, Inside NoVa (May 18, 2013).
  22. ^ Ben Pershing & Errin Whack, Va. GOP settles on Cuccinelli, Obenshain and Jackson for November ballot, Washington Post (May 18, 2013).
  23. ^ "Cruz forces still question Donald Trump's conservative cred". PBS. May 10, 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2017. 
  24. ^ Fain, Travis. "Virginia GOP disavows Trump's words, not Trump". Retrieved 26 April 2017. 
  25. ^ "Stewart Now Co-chair With Gilmore on "Team Virginia" - Bearing Drift". Bearing Drift. 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  26. ^ Laura Vozzella, Trump’s Virginia chairman blames Clinton, 'liberal politicians' for Dallas massacre, Washington Post (July 8, 2016).
  27. ^ Sullivan, Sean; Vozzella, Laura (2016-10-10). "You're Fired: Trump campaign dumps Virginia state chair Corey Stewart". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  28. ^ Schwartzman, Paul (2017-11-05). "As Gillespie adopts Trumpian tactics in Virginia, Bannon credits Corey Stewart". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  29. ^ "Trump's campaign is giving up on Virginia". Retrieved 26 April 2017. 
  30. ^ Laura Vozzella, "Va. Democrats aim to make 2017 governor’s race all about Donald Trump", The Washington Post, (October 25, 2016)[1]
  31. ^ a b Pope, Michael (May 3, 2016). "Virginia Gubernatorial Hopefuls Gearing up for 2017". WVTF. Retrieved 29 April 2017. 
  32. ^ "Gubernatorial Hopeful Giving Away AR-15 for Christmas". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 2016-12-29. 
  33. ^ Kaczynski, Andrew; McDermott, Nathan (2017-03-23). "Virginia gubernatorial candidate removed unflattering info from Wikipedia page". CNN. Retrieved 2017-03-24. 
  34. ^ a b Laura Vozzella (2017-03-24). "GOP chair slams Va. gubernatorial contender for calling rival a 'cuckservative'". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-03-24. 
  35. ^ TEGNA. "Poll: GOP front-runner ties Democrats in governor's race". Retrieved 26 April 2017. 
  36. ^ Gregory S. Schneider (2017-05-15). "Post-Schar poll finds Ed Gillespie with big lead for GOP gubernatorial nomination". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-05-29. 
  37. ^ "2017 June Republican Primary". results.elections.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  38. ^ "Virginia Primary Results: Northam Will Face Gillespie in Governor's Race". NY Times. 2017-06-13. Retrieved 2017-06-14. 
  39. ^ Vozzella, Laura (2017-06-29). "Stewart to Gillespie: 'Nobody cares that your dad owned a grocery store.'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  40. ^ Gary Barns (2017-10-10), Corey Stewart Endorses Ed Gillespie - July 13, 2017, retrieved 2018-01-30 
  41. ^ Times-Dispatch, PATRICK WILSON Richmond. "GOP's Jill Vogel utilizes Corey Stewart in bid for lieutenant governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  42. ^ Robillard, Kevin (July 15, 2017). "Stewart challenges Kaine and GOP with Virginia Senate run". Politico. Retrieved July 15, 2017. 
  43. ^ Portnoy, Jenna; Olivo, Antonio (2017-07-13). "After near miss in Va. governor's race, Corey Stewart says he will challenge Sen. Tim Kaine in 2018". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  44. ^ Portnoy, Jenna; Olivo, Antonio (July 13, 2017). "After near miss in Va. governor's race, Stewart says he will challenge Kaine in 2018". Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved July 16, 2017. 
  45. ^ Portnoy, Jenna; Vozzella, Laura (2017-12-07). "Anybody but Corey Stewart? Virginia GOP looks for others to run against Sen. Kaine". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  46. ^ "Falwell, Jr. endorses Corey Stewart for U.S. Senate". WLNI-FM Lynchburg News and Information. 2017-12-05. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  47. ^ "After Gillespie Loss, Stewart to Put Trump at Center of Senate Run in Virginia". Morning Consult. 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  48. ^ Schwartzman, Paul (2017-11-05). "As Gillespie adopts Trumpian tactics in Virginia, Bannon credits Corey Stewart". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-01-30. 
  49. ^ Lartey, Jamiles (December 9, 2017). "Republican Senate contender Corey Stewart revives Obama 'birther' claim". The Guardian. Retrieved December 9, 2017. 
  50. ^ Moomaw, Graham. "Corey Stewart brings toilet paper to state Capitol, calls Republicans who support Medicaid expansion 'flaccid,' 'garbage'". richmond.com. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 28 February 2018. 
  51. ^ Moomaw, Graham. "Virginia Republican blasts Corey Stewart as a 'charlatan' and 'demagogue' in speech on House floor". richmond.com. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 28 February 2018. 
  52. ^ Du, Susan (April 27, 2017). "Duluth's Corey Stewart turns Confederate poster boy in Virginia governor race". City Pages. Minneapolis. Retrieved April 27, 2017. The 48-year-old Duluth native attended college at St. Olaf in Northfield and law school at William Mitchell in St. Paul before moving to Virginia. 
  53. ^ a b c d e Jonathan Hunley, "Stewart touts Trump for president, himself for governor," NorthernVirginia Magazine (September 6, 2016)Stewart touts Trump for president, himself for governor

External links[edit]

Political offices
Preceded by
Sean Connaughton		 Chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors
2007–present		 Incumbent
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