Gov. Youngkin’s political retreat in Hampton Roads courts Republican donors ahead of statehouse election
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VIRGINIA BEACH — Major Republican donors and supporters of Gov. Glenn Youngkin from around the country attended his political action committee’s second annual Red Vest Retreat this week.
The two-day fundraiser could boost the campaign war chests of Republicans running in local races.
Produced by Spirt of Virginia and named after the zip-up fleece vest Youngkin donned during his 2021 gubernatorial campaign, the retreat was held Tuesday and Wednesday at the historic Cavalier Hotel. The private event included several sessions with Virginia, national and international themes. It was closed to the press.
Former Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Youngkin were scheduled to lead the “Spirit of Leadership at Home and Abroad,” a seated luncheon and discussion Wednesday afternoon on the Cavalier’s “Grand Lawn,” according to a copy of the program obtained by The Virginian-Pilot.
A large tent was set up in front of the 1927 hotel, which faces the ocean, and dozens of guests could be seen dining at tables inside it while musicians entertained.
The retreat was aimed at giving a last-minute boost to the commonwealth’s GOP candidates this year. Every seat in the General Assembly is up for election.
Youngkin hopes to flip the Senate and maintain Republican control of the House, which would give him a broader ability to enact conservative priorities. This year, partisan gridlock meant little movement in either direction on larger policy issues.
GOP control in the statehouse could also enhance his chances to be courted into a 2024 presidential run, say those in his base.
“I would support that and be very excited,” said state Sen. Bill DeSteph, who did not attend the retreat but was briefed by a friend who was there. “If we turn the Senate back red, there’s a chance he’d run for president.”
Youngkin has played coy on the topic of a White House bid, often saying he is focused on the statehouse. But time to make a determination is quickly running out.
The retreat included international topics that could signal the governor’s eye on his future. For example, Youngkin and Kevin Warsh, former member of the Federal Reserve of Board of Governors, were to lead a discussion on the global economy, according to the event program.
First Lady Suzanne Youngkin was scheduled to head a panel with Virginia’s Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera and John Littel, secretary of Health and Human Resources.
Other discussions on Wednesday’s agenda included a political update from the governor and the committee’s leadership.
“Basically, they just went through the races,” said DeSteph, who was told about 50 to 70 people attended. “Here are the ones we know we’re going to win; here are the ones we know we don’t have a chance; here are the ones that are in play.”
DeSteph said other Republican fundraising events have followed a similar format in which the governor’s team talks about the state of each race.
A spokesperson for Spirit of Virginia declined to provide any details about the event.
It won’t be clear until the next round of campaign finance reports are filed the degree to which the retreat boosted the coffers of Youngkin’s PAC. But the Spirit of Virginia’s most recent expense reports show it has made last-minute cash infusions for Republicans in several close statehouse races.
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New campaign finance reports from Sept. 1 to Oct. 7 show Spirit of Virginia made three donations to the Republican Party of Virginia totaling $970,000. It also made major donations totaling $727,000 to Friends of Siobhan Dunnavant.
Dunnavant is a state senator in a tight race against Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg to represent District 16 in the Senate.
In Hampton Roads, the PAC gave significant contributions to support Republican candidates in three of the tightest races in the region: $150,000 to Karen Greenhalgh for Delegate, $140,000 to Emily Brewer for Senate and $125,000 to Danny Diggs for Senate.
Diggs faces Sen. Monty Mason to represent Senate District 24. Greenhalgh, a state delegate, is running against Michael Feggans for the House District 97 seat. Brewer, a state delegate, is competing with fellow delegate Clint Jenkins in the race for Senate District 17.
Other local Republicans who received donations in the past month include Mike Dillender, A.C. Cordoza and Baxter Ennis. The finance reports further revealed the group donated $50,000 to another political action committee, Blacks Electing Conservatives.
Bruce Thompson, CEO of Gold Key|PHR and owner of the Cavalier Hotel, served as chair of Youngkin’s inauguration committee. Thompson said the Youngkins approached him at the Red Vest Retreat in Charlottesville last year with the idea to host it.
Gov. Youngkin’s Virginia Beach roots show up in his relationship with Bruce Thompson
When asked how the retreat was going this week, Thompson texted: “awesome.” The Cavalier’s kitchen catered the food.
“That’s what we do,” Thompson said, noting the venue hosts more than 100 weddings a year.
Prior to the most recent reporting, the Spirit of Virginia had spent a total of $16,389 between 2021 and ’23 at the Cavalier Hotel for a mixture of lodging, food and beverages services and event and meeting expenses. The report from Sept. 1 to Oct. 7 added $41,511 for an event deposit.
Katie King contributed to this report.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
