In a massive political earthquake in Virginia politics, Republican Senator David Suetterlein has endorsed conservative challenger Tina Freitas in her campaign to unseat Senator Emmett Hanger in the upcoming June 11th Republican Primary for the 24th Senate District.
He is the fourth state legislator to endorse Tina Freitas in her race against Sen. Hanger, following endorsements from Delegates Dave LaRock, Brenda Pogge, and Freitas’ own husband, Nick Frietas.
In addition to being the first Senator to endorse Freitas, Suetterlein’s endorsement also marks the first time in years that a sitting member of the legislature endorsed a primary challenge against one of their own party caucus members who serve in the same chamber.
Suetterlein’s endorsement reads as follows:
“I am endorsing Tina Freitas for Senate because Virginia needs strong, reliable conservative leadership.
Tina Freitas will be a faithful and consistent defender of innocent human life and will work to ensure no tax dollars will be allocated for its destruction. She will put our children first by supporting increased education opportunities. She will put the interests of taxpayers ahead of the special interests. She will be a consistent and unwavering vote for the 2nd Amendment rights of all law-abiding Virginians. And, she will stand strong for ratepayers against politically connected corporate electric monopolies.
I do not expect to agree with Tina on every single vote. But, her honest, issues-based campaign is representative of the kind of principled conservative voice I know she will be in the Senate of Virginia. I hope conservative voters in the 24th Senatorial District will join me in supporting Tina Freitas in the June 11 Republican Primary, and give Virginia a chance at a pro-life, conservative Senate majority in November.”
The race between Hanger and Freitas has grown in size and scope over the past three weeks, with Hanger being attacked by several conservative groups for his vote to send millions of taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood in 2018.
This has included Virginians for Life, which slammed Hanger for his pro-abortion vote for Obamacare’s Medicaid Expansion last year, as well as Virginia Constitutional Conservatives, which has left fliers across the district highlighting Hanger’s vote to fund the abortion industry with taxpayer dollars.
Hanger’s campaign has responded by attacking both groups and sending several misleading or outright false mailers to the district in an attempt to cover up his own voting record.
RELATED: Emmett Hanger Was Just Caught Lying On Campaign Materials About His Record
Hanger has declared that he is a “100% Defender of the 2nd Amendment” and a “100% Defender of the Innocent Unborn”, despite his repeated votes with Democrats to kill Constitutional Carry in the State Senate and his vote to send taxpayer dollars to the abortion industry last year when he joined Democrats to kill the Hyde Amendment to the Virginia budget which would have prevented taxpayer funding for abortions.
Hanger and Freitas will face each other on June 11th in the 24th Senate District Republican Primary. The district includes the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro, as well as Augusta, Greene, Madison, and parts of Rockingham and Culpeper counties.