Should Chap Peterson be worried?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger voters don’t like him because of his involvement with the tow truck lobby and close involvement with Advance Towing. This has been discussed quite often on NoVa Reddit whenever Petersen’s name comes up.

Not just young voters. So many people are mad about him related to LGBTQ+ issues, gun violence prevention etc.

What are his positions on LGBTQ+ issues that some (I assume very progressive) people don't like?

He voted for the Marshall-Newman amendment that banned same-sex marriage. You don't have to be a progressive to call that out.

To be fair, that was in 2005 - almost 20 years ago - when very few politicians were in favor of same-sex marriage. I suspect his current position is more favorable from your perspective. He voted to repeal the SSM prohibition in 2021: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+vot+SV0230HJ0582+HJ0582

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Salim volunteer knocked on our door a few weeks ago to talk about his stance on guns. Chap himself came through the week after. We've always been in Chap's district, so it's nice to see he's not taking his old territory for granted.

Agreed. Chap has committed to doing something about gun violence in his debates and on his youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfZHi8_39Sg

This is interesting. He says that he voted in the past for an assault weapon ban in VA, and would do so again. This seems at least somewhat at odds with what I've heard about him elsewhere. Would be interested to know what actually happened on that issue.

In 2020 when they actually had a chance to ban assault weapons, he killed that effort and went on Fox News complaining about an assault weapons ban is terrible. This year, when there was no chance of passing an assault weapons ban and he was being primaried, he voted for a more limited measure that would ban *some* assault weapons. There was no chance of passing anything this year with a GOP controlled House and Governor. It was an act of political theatre so he could say he voted for an assault weapons ban, when the truth is Chap Petersen is the reason they're not banned.

Here is a pretty detailed article from the Post detailing what happened and why: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/why-northams-assault-weapons-bill-never-really-had-a-chance-in-the-virginia-senate/2020/02/23/64e02b6c-5334-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html. Chap definitely voted against the assault weapons ban, but he wasn't the only Democratic Senator to do so. Joining him were progressive champion Scott Surovell, as well as a number of rural Democrats:

On the eve of the legislature’s Jan. 8 opening day, Petersen and Democratic Sens. R. Creigh Deeds (Bath), John S. Edwards (Roanoke) and Lynwood W. Lewis Jr. (Accomack) told their caucus they would not support the assault weapons bill.

Deeds and Edwards said the legislation’s definition of “assault firearm” was imprecise. Lewis — who was not on the committee that ultimately killed the bill — said a ban on future sales would be ineffective given the “tens of thousands” already in private hands in Virginia.

“The sanctuary nonsense kind of got people spooked,” said Sen. Mamie E. Locke (D-Hampton), who supported the measure.

Northam had asked Sen. Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria) to introduce his proposed ban in the Senate. It never materialized.

“I did spend a lot of time working on that,” Ebbin said. “However, I can also count votes and . . . I decided to focus on a few things that I thought might have a better chance.”

Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) had submitted his own version in November but struck it a few days into session. That left the Senate with no assault weapons bill to consider — until the House version, proposed by Del. Mark H. Levine (D-Alexandria), squeaked out of that chamber hours ahead of the Feb. 11 “crossover” deadline.

This is what a blue state looks like: Rapid change roils Virginia Republicans.

The Senate Judiciary Committee docketed the bill right away, even before Northam’s seven other gun-control bills, which cleared the House nearly two weeks earlier and will be heard Monday. Northam, Public Safety Secretary Brian Moran and House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) spent the days ahead of last week’s meeting asking for more time to address objections.

“This was no surprise to anyone that we were going full steam ahead on these eight bills,” Moran said.

Last week, four of the nine Democrats on the Senate committee — Petersen, Deeds, Edwards and Scott A. Surovell (Fairfax) — sided with Republicans to reject the assault weapons bill for the year, sending it to the state’s Crime Commission for study. The vote was 10 to 5.

The only real surprise was Surovell, who wrote on his blog afterward that he does not support civilian ownership of assault weapons as someone who “lived through the 2002 D.C. sniper attacks while crouching in my car getting gas to avoid being shot.”

But Surovell, like the others, had issues with how the bill defined the weapons. He was concerned by a provision forcing owners to give up large-capacity magazines. Without a buyback program, which the bill lacked, the mandate could constitute an unconstitutional “taking” of property, he said.

Surovell said he believes those problems can eventually be worked out but said doing so would take more time than legislators can spare amid this year’s legislative avalanche.

“In a part-time legislature, there’s only so much oxygen in the room,” he said. “I was just voting to continue the discussion.”

[Anonymous]

...and there was real (Constitutional) question(s) with that bill's language on how existing owners' private sale transfers would be handled from a regulatory stand point.

Surovell's comments are on point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger voters don’t like him because of his involvement with the tow truck lobby and close involvement with Advance Towing. This has been discussed quite often on NoVa Reddit whenever Petersen’s name comes up.

Not just young voters. So many people are mad about him related to LGBTQ+ issues, gun violence prevention etc.

What are his positions on LGBTQ+ issues that some (I assume very progressive) people don't like?

He voted for the Marshall-Newman amendment that banned same-sex marriage. You don't have to be a progressive to call that out.

To be fair, that was in 2005 - almost 20 years ago - when very few politicians were in favor of same-sex marriage. I suspect his current position is more favorable from your perspective. He voted to repeal the SSM prohibition in 2021: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+vot+SV0230HJ0582+HJ0582

Great point. Chap is a savvy moderate Democrat who can adapt to the current climate making him an effective representative for his constituents like Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. Yet, Fairfax Dems continue to support Kaine and Warner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Salim volunteer knocked on our door a few weeks ago to talk about his stance on guns. Chap himself came through the week after. We've always been in Chap's district, so it's nice to see he's not taking his old territory for granted.

Agreed. Chap has committed to doing something about gun violence in his debates and on his youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfZHi8_39Sg

This is interesting. He says that he voted in the past for an assault weapon ban in VA, and would do so again. This seems at least somewhat at odds with what I've heard about him elsewhere. Would be interested to know what actually happened on that issue.

In 2020 when they actually had a chance to ban assault weapons, he killed that effort and went on Fox News complaining about an assault weapons ban is terrible. This year, when there was no chance of passing an assault weapons ban and he was being primaried, he voted for a more limited measure that would ban *some* assault weapons. There was no chance of passing anything this year with a GOP controlled House and Governor. It was an act of political theatre so he could say he voted for an assault weapons ban, when the truth is Chap Petersen is the reason they're not banned.

Here is a pretty detailed article from the Post detailing what happened and why: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/why-northams-assault-weapons-bill-never-really-had-a-chance-in-the-virginia-senate/2020/02/23/64e02b6c-5334-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html. Chap definitely voted against the assault weapons ban, but he wasn't the only Democratic Senator to do so. Joining him were progressive champion Scott Surovell, as well as a number of rural Democrats:

On the eve of the legislature’s Jan. 8 opening day, Petersen and Democratic Sens. R. Creigh Deeds (Bath), John S. Edwards (Roanoke) and Lynwood W. Lewis Jr. (Accomack) told their caucus they would not support the assault weapons bill.

Deeds and Edwards said the legislation’s definition of “assault firearm” was imprecise. Lewis — who was not on the committee that ultimately killed the bill — said a ban on future sales would be ineffective given the “tens of thousands” already in private hands in Virginia.

“The sanctuary nonsense kind of got people spooked,” said Sen. Mamie E. Locke (D-Hampton), who supported the measure.

Northam had asked Sen. Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria) to introduce his proposed ban in the Senate. It never materialized.

“I did spend a lot of time working on that,” Ebbin said. “However, I can also count votes and . . . I decided to focus on a few things that I thought might have a better chance.”

Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) had submitted his own version in November but struck it a few days into session. That left the Senate with no assault weapons bill to consider — until the House version, proposed by Del. Mark H. Levine (D-Alexandria), squeaked out of that chamber hours ahead of the Feb. 11 “crossover” deadline.

This is what a blue state looks like: Rapid change roils Virginia Republicans.

The Senate Judiciary Committee docketed the bill right away, even before Northam’s seven other gun-control bills, which cleared the House nearly two weeks earlier and will be heard Monday. Northam, Public Safety Secretary Brian Moran and House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) spent the days ahead of last week’s meeting asking for more time to address objections.

“This was no surprise to anyone that we were going full steam ahead on these eight bills,” Moran said.

Last week, four of the nine Democrats on the Senate committee — Petersen, Deeds, Edwards and Scott A. Surovell (Fairfax) — sided with Republicans to reject the assault weapons bill for the year, sending it to the state’s Crime Commission for study. The vote was 10 to 5.

The only real surprise was Surovell, who wrote on his blog afterward that he does not support civilian ownership of assault weapons as someone who “lived through the 2002 D.C. sniper attacks while crouching in my car getting gas to avoid being shot.”

But Surovell, like the others, had issues with how the bill defined the weapons. He was concerned by a provision forcing owners to give up large-capacity magazines. Without a buyback program, which the bill lacked, the mandate could constitute an unconstitutional “taking” of property, he said.

Surovell said he believes those problems can eventually be worked out but said doing so would take more time than legislators can spare amid this year’s legislative avalanche.

“In a part-time legislature, there’s only so much oxygen in the room,” he said. “I was just voting to continue the discussion.”

This isn't a fair comparison at all. Deeds, Edwards, and Lewis represent more red districts than Chap. There is no excuse for voting against an assault weapons ban when you represent Fairfax and 70% of the voters are Democrats. There's no excuse for Scott to vote against it either, but I don't live in his district so I don't have the opportunity to vote against him (and he didn't get any formidable opponent, sadly)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger voters don’t like him because of his involvement with the tow truck lobby and close involvement with Advance Towing. This has been discussed quite often on NoVa Reddit whenever Petersen’s name comes up.

Not just young voters. So many people are mad about him related to LGBTQ+ issues, gun violence prevention etc.

What are his positions on LGBTQ+ issues that some (I assume very progressive) people don't like?

He voted for the Marshall-Newman amendment that banned same-sex marriage. You don't have to be a progressive to call that out.

To be fair, that was in 2005 - almost 20 years ago - when very few politicians were in favor of same-sex marriage. I suspect his current position is more favorable from your perspective. He voted to repeal the SSM prohibition in 2021: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+vot+SV0230HJ0582+HJ0582

Great point. Chap is a savvy moderate Democrat who can adapt to the current climate making him an effective representative for his constituents like Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. Yet, Fairfax Dems continue to support Kaine and Warner.

Kaine and Warner represent all of Virginia, which is not nearly as Democratic as Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger voters don’t like him because of his involvement with the tow truck lobby and close involvement with Advance Towing. This has been discussed quite often on NoVa Reddit whenever Petersen’s name comes up.

Not just young voters. So many people are mad about him related to LGBTQ+ issues, gun violence prevention etc.

What are his positions on LGBTQ+ issues that some (I assume very progressive) people don't like?

He voted for the Marshall-Newman amendment that banned same-sex marriage. You don't have to be a progressive to call that out.

To be fair, that was in 2005 - almost 20 years ago - when very few politicians were in favor of same-sex marriage. I suspect his current position is more favorable from your perspective. He voted to repeal the SSM prohibition in 2021: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+vot+SV0230HJ0582+HJ0582

Great point. Chap is a savvy moderate Democrat who can adapt to the current climate making him an effective representative for his constituents like Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. Yet, Fairfax Dems continue to support Kaine and Warner.

Kaine and Warner represent all of Virginia, which is not nearly as Democratic as Fairfax County.

During Chap's time in the Senate, his district has changed and his voting behavior reflects who he represents. His last district included conservative areas of Fair Oaks, Burke, and Fairfax City. His opponent wants to win by comparing Chap to Trump and that isn't true. Based on his recent debates, Chap is promising to be a wall against Youngkin politics while supporting democratic values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He sponsored a 2023 session bill that would have exempted certain natural gas pipelines from local zoning regulation. Thank God it didn't pass.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+SB1496&231+sum+SB1496

Yikes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger voters don’t like him because of his involvement with the tow truck lobby and close involvement with Advance Towing. This has been discussed quite often on NoVa Reddit whenever Petersen’s name comes up.

Not just young voters. So many people are mad about him related to LGBTQ+ issues, gun violence prevention etc.

What are his positions on LGBTQ+ issues that some (I assume very progressive) people don't like?

He voted for the Marshall-Newman amendment that banned same-sex marriage. You don't have to be a progressive to call that out.

To be fair, that was in 2005 - almost 20 years ago - when very few politicians were in favor of same-sex marriage. I suspect his current position is more favorable from your perspective. He voted to repeal the SSM prohibition in 2021: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+vot+SV0230HJ0582+HJ0582

That’s BS.

Maybe 30+ years ago, but plenty supported it in 2005.

[Anonymous]

I associate his name with predatory towing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger voters don’t like him because of his involvement with the tow truck lobby and close involvement with Advance Towing. This has been discussed quite often on NoVa Reddit whenever Petersen’s name comes up.

Not just young voters. So many people are mad about him related to LGBTQ+ issues, gun violence prevention etc.

What are his positions on LGBTQ+ issues that some (I assume very progressive) people don't like?

He voted for the Marshall-Newman amendment that banned same-sex marriage. You don't have to be a progressive to call that out.

To be fair, that was in 2005 - almost 20 years ago - when very few politicians were in favor of same-sex marriage. I suspect his current position is more favorable from your perspective. He voted to repeal the SSM prohibition in 2021: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+vot+SV0230HJ0582+HJ0582

Great point. Chap is a savvy moderate Democrat who can adapt to the current climate making him an effective representative for his constituents like Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. Yet, Fairfax Dems continue to support Kaine and Warner.

Kaine and Warner represent all of Virginia, which is not nearly as Democratic as Fairfax County.

During Chap's time in the Senate, his district has changed and his voting behavior reflects who he represents. His last district included conservative areas of Fair Oaks, Burke, and Fairfax City. His opponent wants to win by comparing Chap to Trump and that isn't true. Based on his recent debates, Chap is promising to be a wall against Youngkin politics while supporting democratic values.

That’s weird. He sure seems to be in line with Youngkin in many things.

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2022/february/name-927708-en.html

Maybe he’s just saying what people want to hear, regardless of his voting record.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chap isn’t my senator, but me and many of my fellow Arlingtonians will be very happy to financially support alternative primary candidates. He can consider it payback for doing the bidding of Advanced Towing all these years, not just as a lawyer but as a state senator.

I didn’t realize he represented them. That’s disturbing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger voters don’t like him because of his involvement with the tow truck lobby and close involvement with Advance Towing. This has been discussed quite often on NoVa Reddit whenever Petersen’s name comes up.

Not just young voters. So many people are mad about him related to LGBTQ+ issues, gun violence prevention etc.

What are his positions on LGBTQ+ issues that some (I assume very progressive) people don't like?

He voted for the Marshall-Newman amendment that banned same-sex marriage. You don't have to be a progressive to call that out.

To be fair, that was in 2005 - almost 20 years ago - when very few politicians were in favor of same-sex marriage. I suspect his current position is more favorable from your perspective. He voted to repeal the SSM prohibition in 2021: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+vot+SV0230HJ0582+HJ0582

Great point. Chap is a savvy moderate Democrat who can adapt to the current climate making him an effective representative for his constituents like Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. Yet, Fairfax Dems continue to support Kaine and Warner.

Kaine and Warner represent all of Virginia, which is not nearly as Democratic as Fairfax County.

During Chap's time in the Senate, his district has changed and his voting behavior reflects who he represents. His last district included conservative areas of Fair Oaks, Burke, and Fairfax City. His opponent wants to win by comparing Chap to Trump and that isn't true. Based on his recent debates, Chap is promising to be a wall against Youngkin politics while supporting democratic values.

We can be thankful for what Chap has done 20 years ago. But this is 2023 and Chap still acts like it's the early 2000s. We need a real Democratic senator. When Chap sues Ralph Northam over COVID mandates and compares them to segregation. That doesn't represent the views of Fairfax County today. When he rejects an assault weapons ban, that's out of step with the views of people in Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger voters don’t like him because of his involvement with the tow truck lobby and close involvement with Advance Towing. This has been discussed quite often on NoVa Reddit whenever Petersen’s name comes up.

Not just young voters. So many people are mad about him related to LGBTQ+ issues, gun violence prevention etc.

What are his positions on LGBTQ+ issues that some (I assume very progressive) people don't like?

He voted for the Marshall-Newman amendment that banned same-sex marriage. You don't have to be a progressive to call that out.

To be fair, that was in 2005 - almost 20 years ago - when very few politicians were in favor of same-sex marriage. I suspect his current position is more favorable from your perspective. He voted to repeal the SSM prohibition in 2021: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+vot+SV0230HJ0582+HJ0582

That’s BS.

Maybe 30+ years ago, but plenty supported it in 2005.

False. Learn your history. Use boomers remember what it was like. Biden surprised a lot of Dems, including Obama, when he came out in support of same sex marriage in 2012 yet four years earlier refused to openly support. It “shook” the political world.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/05/06/joe-biden-gay-marriage-00030367

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger voters don’t like him because of his involvement with the tow truck lobby and close involvement with Advance Towing. This has been discussed quite often on NoVa Reddit whenever Petersen’s name comes up.

Not just young voters. So many people are mad about him related to LGBTQ+ issues, gun violence prevention etc.

What are his positions on LGBTQ+ issues that some (I assume very progressive) people don't like?

He voted for the Marshall-Newman amendment that banned same-sex marriage. You don't have to be a progressive to call that out.

To be fair, that was in 2005 - almost 20 years ago - when very few politicians were in favor of same-sex marriage. I suspect his current position is more favorable from your perspective. He voted to repeal the SSM prohibition in 2021: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+vot+SV0230HJ0582+HJ0582

Great point. Chap is a savvy moderate Democrat who can adapt to the current climate making him an effective representative for his constituents like Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. Yet, Fairfax Dems continue to support Kaine and Warner.

Kaine and Warner represent all of Virginia, which is not nearly as Democratic as Fairfax County.

During Chap's time in the Senate, his district has changed and his voting behavior reflects who he represents. His last district included conservative areas of Fair Oaks, Burke, and Fairfax City. His opponent wants to win by comparing Chap to Trump and that isn't true. Based on his recent debates, Chap is promising to be a wall against Youngkin politics while supporting democratic values.

That’s weird. He sure seems to be in line with Youngkin in many things.

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2022/february/name-927708-en.html

Maybe he’s just saying what people want to hear, regardless of his voting record.

That was for masking. It would have been lifted anyway. Look at his voting record on real Democratic issues. He has voted with his party.