Politics & Government

Right-Wing Blogger Declares Candidacy for 35th District

Brian Schoeneman challenges Del. Mark Keam, but may end up in a different district race

Though legislative boundaries still need to be drawn, Brian Schoeneman has declared his candidacy for the House of Delegates.

Currently, Schoeneman (R) is challenging Del. Mark Keam (D-35th District), but the General Assembly will meet in April to redraw district lines, which may leave Schoeneman or Keam in a different district.

"So long as I face a Democratic incumbent (or an open seat), I intend to campaign to the finish on November 8th," Schoeneman wrote in his announcement, which posted on the political blog "Bearing Drift."

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Keam responded to Schoeneman's announcement with an e-mail announcement of his re-election — and also a plea for donations.

He pointed to the March 31 deadline for candidates to disclose all campaign contributions and said he knows political analysts will begin to determine "who's hot and who's not."

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"I don't want these pundits to mischaracterize our campaign based on our March 31 finance report," Keam wrote in the e-mail.

Schoeneman said he is running because he thinks it's time he stopped talking and started doing.

"As I am fond of saying – criticizing is easy; governing is hard," he wrote. "And while I love blogging and I love sharing my opinions with all of you, the time has come for me to translate those opinions into action."

Keam referenced Schoeneman's candidacy, though not by name, and said he expected the race to be a tough one if they were to face each other.

"While I have never met this gentleman, I'm familiar with him as a constituent who has been critical of my work during my campaign in 2009 and in my first term in office. ..." Keam wrote. "I also know that this Republican candidate has a lot of experience in the political and policy fields, and will be a tough, credible and worthy opponent. Should redistricting result in us running against each other, I believe the 35th District will become one of the most contested races this year."


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