Denouncing his own party, Republican Michael Del Rosso announced a run for the 5th District seat that Congressman Robert Hurt will give up after this year. About three dozen supporters joined Del Rosso in front of the Freedom of Speech Wall on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall on a chilly January 4.
Del Rosso cited a Fox News poll that said 62 percent of Republicans feel “betrayed” by the party. “They’ve been bought and paid for by special interests on Wall Street, the Chamber of Commerce and their donors,” he said. Calling the leadership “corrupt,” he said, “You’re going to put people in jail when you find out how bad things are.”
Del Rosso is a Charlottesville resident who has lived here for eight years. He’s a former technology executive, a fellow at the Claremont Institute and the Center for Security Policy and co-author of Shariah: The Threat to America.
He said the ideological beliefs of Muslims mean they have to commit felonies to comply with Islamic law. “The definition of jihad means they have to kill infidels,” he said to applause from supporters.
Since Hurt announced December 23 he would not seek a fourth term, two other Republicans have entered the race. That same day, state Senator Tom Garrett declared his candidacy, and last week, Bedford real estate developer Jim McKelvey, who lost the 2010 primary to Hurt, said he was running again. Democrats Jane Dittmar and Ericke Cage are also vying for the seat. Virginia’s primary is March 1.