(The Center Square) – A weekend vote by the Republican Party of Virginia’s governing board sparked frustration and confusion among some conservatives after party leaders delayed taking an official position on three proposed constitutional amendments expected to appear on Virginia ballots this November.
The issue came during Saturday’s meeting of the Republican Party of Virginia’s State Central Committee, or SCC.
According to public statements shared by SCC members and local Republican committees, members approved a procedural motion 32-30 to send the amendments to the party’s Resolutions Committee for more review instead of immediately holding a direct vote on the amendments themselves.
The proposed amendments deal with abortion access, same-sex marriage language in Virginia’s constitution and automatic restoration of voting rights for people who have completed felony sentences.
Confusion spread online after Del. Karen Hamilton, R-Culpeper, posted Saturday that the SCC had “voted to remain neutral and abstain from taking a position” on the amendments.
“You may have varying opinions on these but the official party creed would demand a NO vote on all three,” Hamilton wrote on social media.
The post quickly drew criticism from conservatives who said the Republican Party should have formally opposed the amendments immediately instead of delaying action.
Hamilton later posted that she had been told the issue could come back before the SCC during another meeting in June. She also encouraged supporters to contact SCC representatives and push for a recorded vote if the issue returns.
The Loudoun County Republican Committee later posted online that the SCC “did not vote on the substance of the amendments” and said the only vote taken Saturday was procedural.
“As a result, no official position was taken by the Republican Party of Virginia last night on the proposed constitutional amendments,” the committee wrote.
Daniel Brubaker, a 10th Congressional District representative on the SCC, criticized the procedural move and said conservatives were “a single vote short” of blocking the referral motion.
“And the really sad part is that, judging by the debate on the original motion, I believe it would have passed quite handily by the committee if it had not been derailed by this procedural move,” Brubaker wrote online.
According to statements shared publicly by party officials and committees, the issue could return before the SCC during a future meeting.
The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comment from Hamilton and Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Jeff Ryer.
