In Virginia's recent primary election, the individual who played a significant role in the battles regarding casinos lost the contest.
Advocates for a casino in Richmond, Virginia, are now free from one obstacle. A lawmaker who's been attempting to sabotage the project, Senator Joe Morrissey (D), lost in his recent primary election against former state delegate Lashrecse Aird. With more than 69% of the votes, Aird claimed victory, as per the unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.
Morrissey had managed to prevent a 2022 referendum and was trying to do the same this year. His goal was to insert language into the state budget to prevent Richmond from putting a new casino measure on the ballot in November. He feels it's unfair for the city to have a second chance after residents there narrowly rejected a similar casino idea in 2021.
Budget discussions in the Virginia General Assembly have come to a standstill due to lawmakers' focus on their primary campaigns over the past few weeks. However, with the recent primary elections wrapped up, they are expected to resume soon.
Morrissey's casino push isn't the main focus of the budget negotiations, but he claims he has enough support to insert language into this year's budget to block a new referendum.
The fate of the Virginia General Assembly's new budget is uncertain. The legislators are in the middle of a two-year budget cycle, so they don't necessarily have to pass a new budget before June 30.
Despite the divided opinions on a variety of issues, the Republicans in the House of Delegates and Democrats in the Senate are under pressure to address several bipartisan proposals. Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment (R-James City) hinted at a renewed energy in the budget negotiations starting this week.
Morrissey's reduced political power might affect his influence in passing his priorities. He would rather see a casino in Petersburg, a city he represents, but thinks Richmond's casino could hurt Petersburg's chances. The Cordish Companies, which presented a Petersburg casino proposal, said it wouldn't proceed if it had to compete with one in Richmond.
The Richmond City Council recently voted to place a new casino measure on the November ballot. The proposal is worth $500 million and is led by Urban One, a Black-focused media conglomerate. They have a new partner in Churchill Downs after the Kentucky Derby organizer obtained assets from Peninsula Pacific Entertainment.
Morrissey used his support for the casino in his campaign. He said that if Aird won the nomination, she would let Pittsburgh have the casino "on a silver platter" and abandon the Petersburg casino idea. Aird dismissed Morrissey's claims, saying she supports a Petersburg casino but has some concerns about certain elements of the Cordish proposal. She also criticized Morrissey for failing to secure budget language blocking a new Richmond referendum. Aird also claimed Morrissey's casino attack was a distraction from his positions on other divisive issues, such as abortion, which are not aligned with the majority of Democrats.
Morrissey's overwhelming loss in the primary election suggests that the casino argument played a minor role in the election, which was likely determined by social issues and past personal controversies. Aird received support from several legislators and members of the state's congressional delegation and heavily outspent Morrissey during the campaign.
Abridged Version
Senator Joe Morrissey (D), known for blocking casino projects in Richmond, lost his primary election to former state delegate Lashrecse Aird. Aird won over 69% of the votes in this two-way race, as per the unofficial Virginia Department of Elections results.
With Morrissey's defeat, Richmond casino proponents have less opposition. The senator planned to get language inserted into the state budget to prevent Richmond from holding a new casino referendum. Despite this, budget negotiations in the General Assembly have been stalled due to lawmakers' focus on campaigning.
Morrissey's attempts to block a new Richmond casino referendum are passive, as he has alreadily blocked one in 2022. In spite of this, he thinks he has enough support to include budget language to prevent a new referendum.
The future of the Virginia General Assembly's budget is dubious, as they are in a two-year budget cycle and don't necessarily need a new budget by June 30. With different political views, the Republican-controlled House of Delegates and the Democratic-majority Senate are under pressure to address bipartisan proposals.
Ajd might see decreased political power due to her defeat. She prefers a Petersburg casino, but fears a Richmond casino could impact Petersburg's chances. Cordish Companies, a potential partner in a proposed Petersburg casino, has said it would not proceed if they had to compete against a Richmond casino.
Urban One, a Black-focused media conglomerate, will lead a $500 million casino measure in Richmond on the November ballot. They have a new partner in Churchill Downs after the Kentucky Derby organizer acquired Peninsula Pacific Entertainment's assets.
Morrissey's support for the casino seemed to play a minor role in the election, which may have been influenced by social issues and past controversies. He claimed that if Aird won, she'd give Richmond the casino without a fight. Aird, in response, said she's in favor of a Petersburg casino but has concerns about specific elements of the Cordish proposal.
The significance of Morrissey's casino efforts seems to have been overshadowed by his personal controversies and other divisive issues, like abortion, which contradict the majority of Democratic views. Aird outspent Morrissey during the campaign and secured support from numerous legislators.
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Source: www.casino.org
