CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – With new U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Todd Gilbert abandoning his seat in the House of Delegates, it’s now up to the 33rd House District Republican Legislative District Committee to come up with a GOP candidate for the November ballot. The district covers all of Shenandoah and Page counties, as well as parts of Rockingham and Warren counties.

The committee held an official call Friday and plans to hold public interviews at 5 p.m. July 29 in Stonewall Jackson High School’s old gymnasium in Quicksburg.

Those wishing to be considered need to submit a written declaration of candidacy, a signed and notarized statement of intent to support all Republican nominees in 2025, and a resume. There’s a filing fee of $352.80. Those are to be submitted by hand or by mail to Committee Chair Vito Gentile by no later than 5 p.m. Thursday. The Republican replacing Gilbert on the ballot will run against the Democrats’ nominee, Catherine Rec of Quicksburg, who is a political newcomer.

Before leaving the race, Gilbert exhibited a huge fundraising advantage in 2nd-quarter financial disclosures. Gilbert, a 20-year incumbent who was minority leader after at one point wielding the House Speaker’s gavel, had raised nearly $651,000 with just over $294,000 cash on-hand. Rec had raised just under $5000 with $2124 cash on-hand. Democrats hold a razor-thin 51-49 majority in the House as of now. As evidenced by a huge fundraising advantage and past voting records in district localities, the Virginia Public Access Project rates the district “strong Republican”.