Republican candidate for Governor Kirk Cox (Colonial Heights) announced on Tuesday that former Virginia Governor George Allen and his wife Susan Allen have endorsed his campaign.
“My friendship with Kirk and admiration for his conservative leadership goes back more than three decades, to our service together in the House of Delegates and then his key legislative role in helping enact our agenda of honest change for Virginians during my term as Governor,” Allen said. “I’ve watched him put our conservative principles to work solving problems and improving Virginians’ lives as a teacher and coach, delegate, majority leader, and Speaker of the House. He’s a proven leader and winner, and he will make an excellent, steady, and most knowledgeable Governor.”
Allen was the Governor of Virginia from 1994 to 1998 and represented Virginia in the United States Senate from 2001 to 2007. Prior to that, Allen served in the House of Delegates from 1983-1991, which is where he first worked with Cox when the young Republican from Colonial Heights was elected to the legislative body in 1989.
“I have looked up to Governor Allen since the day I walked into the House of Delegates,” said Cox on Tuesday. “I admired his leadership as Governor and have spent the better part of my career fighting to preserve and build on his many successful reforms, including truth in sentencing, high academic standards, college affordability, job creation in every part of this state, and lifting Virginians out of poverty so that they have genuine opportunity and the dignity of work. I also have admired the strength and grace of Susan Allen, who has been a strong conservative leader in her own right and a tireless champion for bringing people together for causes that have improved Virginia.”
Susan Allen, who has often campaigned for her husband in the past, says Cox is the Republican candidate that can win statewide in Virginia – a task that no Republican has achieved since Bob McDonnell won in 2009. “Kirk holds the bluest seat of any Republican in the General Assembly, proving he has the ability to unite Virginians and win,” said the former First Lady. “To elect a Republican Governor of Virginia in 2021, we need to expand our support by reaching out with a hopeful, positive vision that shows our conservative principles work for everyone.”
Cox is currently running against state Senator Amanda Chase (Chesterfield) for the nomination. Chase has been calling for martial law in an effort to overturn the presidential election results and she is also facing censure by her colleagues in the Senate after she spoke at the Jan. 6 ‘Stop the Steal’ rally in Washington D.C.
Additionally, former Trump administration member Sergio de la Peña has officially entered the race. Former Carlyle Group CEO Glenn Youngkin and marketing executive Pete Snyder are also expected to officially announce their candidacy soon.
“Serving as Governor of the Commonwealth is a tremendous honor that carries with it enormous responsibility to the owners of the government: The People,” added Governor Allen. “Susan and I have seen firsthand how the people of Virginia, regardless of party or background, will respond and pitch in if you’re honest with them, include them in your cause, and offer common sense conservative ideas to make this Commonwealth a better place to live, learn, work, and raise our families. Kirk has been that kind of leader as Delegate and Speaker, and he will accomplish even more as Governor for all the people of Virginia in every region of our Commonwealth.”
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