Two more former Republican state elected officials in Virginia have endorsed Democrat Terry McAuliffe for governor in this fall’s election. McAuliffe’s campaign announced yesterday the backing of former Sens. Marty Williams of Newport News and Brandon Bell of Roanoke.
Williams is former chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. Bell served two terms as a Republican and lost an independent comeback bid in 2011. Last week, veteran Republican political consultant Boyd Marcus endorsed McAuliffe and said he’s actively advising McAuliffe’s Democratic campaign against Republican Ken Cuccinelli. Three other former GOP lawmakers, known for their opposition to the party’s conservative wing, backed McAuliffe in March.
According to the campaign of McAuliffe’s Republican opponent Ken Cuccinelli, Williams and Bell had also endorsed the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, State Sen. Creigh Deeds, in 2008, although Bell switched back to support the GOP nominee then.
