Only On 8: One-on-One with RNC Chairman Michael Whatley on Virginia’s elections

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- With Election Day a little more than 100 days away, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said the GOP is committed to ensuring Winsome Earle-Sears is the next governor of Virginia.

Whatley said a lot of the RNC’s resources in Virginia will be used on a get-out-the-vote campaign.

“When you think about grassroots and you think about the victory teams that are gonna be on the ground, where we’re recruiting and training volunteers to make phone calls, knocking on doors, and getting out literature,” Whatley told 8News in an exclusive interview.

Whatley adding that the RNC will also spend time and money on a protect the ballot initiative.

“To make sure that we have the right rules of the road in place and that we’ve got volunteers that are gonna be in every precinct where a vote is cast, where a vote is counted,” said Whatley.  

Whatley added that he hopes to portray Republicans as the common-sense candidates, even with recent polling showing that 55% of Virginians disapprove of the job President Donald Trump is doing at the federal level.

“This is all about jobs and economy,” Whatley told 8News. “This is all about making sure that our kids and our communities are safe. This is all about making sure that Virginia is leading when it comes to our national security posture around the world, and making sure that we can connect Winsome Sears and her policies with those issues that Virginia voters care about.”

Earlier this month, 8News spoke exclusively with DNC Chair Ken Martin about Virginia’s elections. To see that story, click here.