McCormick was elected state superintendent as a Republican in 2016 by unseating Democrat Glenda Ritz, who was the last Democrat to serve. earn a state-level officebut she immediately began to feud with Holcomb and the rest of his party on his desire to increase oversight of charter schools. Things only got worse as McCormick’s tenure continued, and she decided in 2018 not to seek re-election two years later. (Republicans initially passed legislation to have him in an appointed position starting in 2024, but they rewind the timeline after the announcement of his retirement.)
McCormick burned what few bridges remained with GOP leaders in 2020 when she endorsed several Democratic candidates, including Holcomb nemesis Woody Myers. Myers even announced that he keep her as superintendentsomething McCormick said she would accept due to her “outrage” at the state’s “woefully underfunded” education system, but Holcomb’s landslide victory rendered the point moot.
McCormick continued to join the democratic party the following year, and she formed an exploratory committee last December for a campaign to replace Holcomb. She launched her campaign on Thursday with a video castigating Republicans for pushing an ultra-conservative agenda, including a near total ban on abortion, while schools and the economy suffer.
2023 may be a lean year, but that just means Virginia takes its traditional place as one of the key states to watch. With odd state elections, Virginia has often been a key indicator for the rest of the country and this year is no different. The State Senate and General Assembly are in place and both houses could be won by either side. Kos Daily Elections Editor Jeff Singer joins us to preview key races in the June primary and fall general election.
