Virginia Republican State Senator Richard H. Black, who recently caused a stir with his remarks about spousal rape, military sexual assault, and homosexuality, announced on Wednesday that he will no longer be seeking the seat of retiring Rep. Frank R. Wolf in the United States House of Representatives (R-Va.).
Black officially started his campaign to succeed Wolf in Virginia’s tenth district on Monday. In the Republican primary, he would have competed against Del. Barbara Comstock and the chairman of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors, Richard C. Shickle.
Just two days later, he withdrew his candidacy in a statement published on the conservative Bull Elephant blog, citing his desire to preserve the partisan balance in the state Senate as his rationale.
I gave some serious thought to running for the 10th Congressional seat,” Black said in the statement. After talking to the Republican caucus leaders in Richmond, however, I realised that my presence in the Senate is crucial to keeping the party’s current 20/20 split.
On the floor of the Virginia House of Delegates in 2005, Black stated that he “did not know how on earth you could validly get a conviction of a husband-wife rape, when they’re living together, sleeping in the same bed, she’s in a nightie, and so forth, there’s no injury, no separation, or anything.”
The Washington Post reports that on Thursday, local Republican officials in the 10th District will meet to discuss holding a convention or a primary to choose their nominee.