This looks like a potentially promising one for "Team Blue":James Towey, the former director of the Virginia State Crime Commission, is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Del. William R. Janis in the 56th House of Delegates district, which includes parts of Henrico County and all of Louisa and Goochland counties.
Janis, among the House's more outspoken conservatives, was elected in November 2001 to represent the traditionally Republican district. He is seeking another term this fall, when all 100 House seats are up.
Towey is running on a platform of increasing transparency and putting constituents before party politics. "There are too many people who are looking for ways to keep their party in power or to find ways to get power," he said. "I have already made it clear that I'm an individual first before I'm a member of any party."
In addition, Towey "served as senior assistant attorney general and chief of the attorney general's special-prosecutions section under Republican Bob McDonnell."
In short, Towey (see here for his bio) may or may not be the type of progressive Democrat we like in Arlington, Fairfax, Charlottesville, etc., but he's the type of Democrat who might have a shot in a strong Republican district against a super-conservative opponent. I'll take it.
