Governor Jeb Bush to file double the needed signatures for Virginia

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Showing his strong support in Virginia, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush will officially file twice the necessary number of signatures today to qualify for the Virginia Primary ballot. To qualify, presidential candidates for 2016 must file a minimum of 5,000 signatures statewide and a minimum of 200 signatures in each of Virginia’s eleven congressional districts by the December 10 deadline.

The Bush campaign is submitting more than 10,000 signatures weeks before the deadline.

Alex Davis with Governor Bush. (Photo by Jeb Bush for President campaign photographer)

Volunteers fanned out across the Commonwealth including Alex Davis in the 9th Congressional District who single-handedly collected over 500 signatures while attending dozens of events throughout the summer and fall, receiving overwhelming positive response. In September when Governor Bush addressed supporters in Bristol, he noticed Alex’s clipboard of petitions and talked with him about the process and personally thanked him for all his work.

Governor Bush was grateful for the effort of so many and commented, “I am humbled to have the support of so many grassroots activists here in Virginia.  The Commonwealth will help decide the next president, and I plan to compete here.  Thank you to all of the Virginia volunteers that spent countless hours gathering signatures.  I will not let you down.”

Virginia’s former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, who joined the campaign in September, noted the strong grassroots effort that went into the petition drive. “Jeb submitted over twice the required signatures needed to appear on Virginia’s ballot, weeks in advance of the December deadline,” he said. “This is an impressive feat and is possible because Jeb has a strong grassroots network of Virginia volunteers, which will be essential to winning the primary here in the Commonwealth on March 1.”

Bush Virginia co-chair and former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia John Hager will accompany Kilgore this afternoon to deliver the Jeb Bush signatures to the State Board of Elections. Hager, whose son Henry is married to Governor Bush’s niece Jenna, noted, “It is exciting to have Jeb on the ballot so early here in the Commonwealth. Virginia is a place of tradition, and we appreciate Jeb taking the ballot access process so seriously.”

Former House Majority Leader and Bush Virginia co-chair Eric Cantor appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Wednesday discussing Governor Bush’s policies and strong stand against terrorism. A driving force with the campaign, he commented, “Jeb Bush has a tremendous grassroots organization here in Virginia.  Today we are  delivering more than 10,000 petition signatures to ensure Governor Bush’s place on the ballot.  These signatures were gathered by Virginians who are fired up about electing Jeb Bush the next President of the United States.”

The Virginia Primary will be held on March 1, 2016. To learn more about Governor Bush’s policies or to join the campaign, visit his website at Jeb2016.com.