Related

The latest from our Blue Ridge Caucus politics blog

• Va. Senate votes to restrict local government land grabs
• House advances “personhood” and abortion ultrasound bills

From The Roanoke Times

• 'Personhood' bill set for vote today
• Eminent domain bill passes in Virginia Senate
• General Assembly Notebook: House advances capital punishment bill
• Follow state and local political coverage from The Roanoke Times

RICHMOND -- Tuesday's primary elections for General Assembly seats feature tug of wars between conservative and moderate Republicans, a battle over loyalty to the Democratic Party, and opportunities for new faces to emerge on the state political scene.

Half of the 16 primary races in the state involve incumbents. Six members of the Virginia Senate and two members of the House of Delegates must survive intraparty challenges if they hope to defend their seats in the November general election.

The Senate races have attracted the most attention statewide, partly because their outcome could affect the direction of the 40-member chamber for the next four years. Republicans hold a 23-17 majority, but several GOP senators angered conservative activists by voting for a tax increase in 2004 and pushing unsuccessfully for another tax increase for transportation improvements in 2006.

Three Republicans who supported the tax increases -- John Chichester of Northumberland County, Charles Hawkins of Chatham and Russ Potts of Winchester -- are retiring this year. Four GOP senators who sided with them -- including Emmett Hanger of Augusta County -- face opponents Tuesday.

Republican Brandon Bell of Roanoke County also has opposition from former Roanoke Mayor Ralph Smith, who insists Bell has not been consistently conservative.

Bell and Hanger are part of the Virginia Republican Senate Leadership Trust, a committee of 16 GOP senators. J. Scott Leake, the organization's executive director, predicted that Republican incumbents will prevail Tuesday if the races are decided on their records.

Leake said incumbents are defending their records and also reminding voters that they have approved a variety of tax cuts in recent years-- from repealing the estate tax to reducing the sales tax on groceries.

"These campaign challenges have given these incumbents time, energy and political capital to explain their records in the last several years, and they're proud of what they've done," Leake said.

Some Republican activists see the primaries as an opportunity to steer the Senate in a more conservative direction on taxes and social issues.

"I think what it's really about is the direction of the Republican Party -- where we want to take the party," said Kurt Michael, chairman of the Augusta County Republican Committee.

Michael is one of seven GOP committee chairmen publicly supporting Hanger's opponent, R. Scott Sayre of Rockbridge County.

All registered voters may participate in Tuesday's elections. But in precincts with Republican and Democratic contests, voters can only participate in one party's election.

Some Senate nominating fights already have been decided. Republicans in Chichester's Senate district held a party canvass May 19 and nominated Richard Stuart, a moderate who had Chichester's backing. On the same day in Northern Virginia, conservative Patricia Phillips of Loudoun County won a firehouse primary for the right to challenge incumbent Democrat Mark Herring this fall.

State Republican Party spokesman Shaun Kenney said the GOP will close ranks after the nomination fights to defend its House and Senate majorities in the fall.

"We come back together and we focus on what unites us instead of what has divided us in the past," Kenney said.

Not all of Tuesday's action will be on the Republican side. Democrats have a few contests of their own, none more prominent than the Senate race pitting veteran incumbent Benjamin Lambert of Richmond against Del. Donald McEachin of Henrico County.

Lambert drew the ire of Democrats last year when he endorsed Republican George Allen's bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Lambert said he backed Allen largely because of the senator's support of federal funding for historically black colleges, even though campaign controversies had raised questions about Allen's sensitivity on racial issues.

McEachin was an early supporter of Democrat Jim Webb, who defeated Allen. Webb has returned the favor by campaigning for McEachin, who has served two stints in the House and was his party's 2001 nominee for attorney general.

Two House Democrats face nomination fights that have drawn attention from the party's most visible leaders. Del. Dan Bowling of Tazewell County is being challenged by Grundy lawyer Mickey McGlothlin. Bowling has the endorsement of Gov. Tim Kaine, who is staying neutral in all but two of Tuesday's Democratic primaries.

Former Gov. Mark Warner is backing a Democratic challenger to veteran Del. Johnny Joannou of Portsmouth, who often sides with House Republicans on tax and spending issues. Norfolk attorney Henry Light is opposing Joannou.

The Democratic nomination fights won't divide the party as it tries to gain legislative seats this fall, said Amy Reger, executive director of the state Democratic Party.

"We'll be happy with whatever candidates we have nominated," Reger said.