The News-Press is pleased to announce that it endorses Former State Del. Brian Moran as the best among the three candidates running for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Virginia.

The primary election is next Tuesday, June 9, with the polls open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on that day. We urge all Democrats to turn out for this important election to determine who will represent the party in the race against Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell in November.

The News-Press also endorses Jody Wagner for Lieutenant Governor, in a two-way race for that Democratic nomination. In two other important contested State Delegate races in the News-Press‘ area of influence, it endorses veteran incumbent State Del. Bob Hull for re-election in the 38th District, and Adam Parkhomenko for election in the 47th State Del. District of North Arlington.

The News-Press takes its role in this process very seriously, among other things, having had lengthy face-to-face interviews with all the gubernatorial candidates, and with both the candidates in the 38th District race. It has had eyewitness exposure to all the candidates in all the races where it has endorsed. The News-Press, after all, is the only locally-owned newspaper based in the electorally-decisive Eastern Fairfax-Falls Church-North Arlington region of Northern Virginia. This region has provided entire statewide margins of victory in key upsets for Democrats in their sweep of recent elections.

The News-Press first announced its endorsements on its web site Sunday night. In a press release following the announcement of the endorsements, News-Press owner-editor Nicholas F. Benton explained:

“Moran has a wealth of experience fighting for both the betterment of Virginia and progressive values. As a Northern Virginian he brings a depth of knowledge of the region’s needs unmatched by his two opponents. His strongly-stated vow to fight for the repeal of the Marshall-Newman amendment to the state constitution, which denies equal rights to a whole class of Virginia citizens by banning gay marriage, sets him on a high moral ground that will serve him well going into the general election. It will compel his Republican opponent to own his party’s continuing, divisive stand on this issue.”

He added, “Wagner is also distinguished for her record of achievement working for a better Virginia and with the achievements of the previous two Democratic gubernatorial administrations. Hull likewise has a wealth of experience and achievement, including 17 years of accumulated seniority to the benefit of his constituents. Parkhomenko, among five rivals all seeking pubic office for the first time, brings the most energy, at his young age having already accumulated more political experience than most twice his age, and will provide Richmond with a worthy representative of the ‘millennial generation.'”