For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 7, 2009

– KNIGHT WINS IN VIRGINIA SPECIAL ELECTION; ADDS TO WINS IN TEXAS, DELAWARE –

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Republican Barry Knight won the special election of the 81st House of Delegates District in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia tonight, building on the number of Republicans winning at the state and federal level following the November Presidential Election. Knight replaces Terrie Suit, who resigned her seat in the fall to join the private sector. The Republican State Leadership Committee, the nation’s largest caucus of Republican state leaders, congratulated Knight on his victory in Virginia. This win comes in the newly-named DNC Chair Governor Tim Kaine’s home state.

“The RSLC congratulates Barry Knight on his important win for the people of the eighty-first district in Virginia. His win keeps this seat represented by a commonsense conservative looking to bring real solutions to Richmond,” said RSLC President Scott Ward. “It is a great way to start 2009 and builds on the Republican wins in Texas and Delaware legislative races, as well as two Congressional races, following the November Presidential Election. We are working to rebuild the Republican Party by building a farm team for the future at the state level and are proud that Barry Knight will be a part of the team.”

In December, Tom Kovach won the special election for the 6th District of the Delaware House, which includes part of Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s hometown, and Joan Huffman came from behind to win in a run-off election for the Texas Senate.

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is the only national organization whose mission is electing Republicans to the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and State Legislator. The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders in the country – making a national impact one state at a time.

The RSLC has over 70,000 donors from all 50 states supporting the RSLC’s goals to pursue a pro-growth agenda, including reforming the tax code, healthcare and legal systems; promoting a better educational system; encouraging sound energy initiatives; and advocating public safety through tough, crime-fighting policies. During the 2008 election the RSLC helped maintain the number of Republican Attorneys General and Lieutenant Governors across the U.S. In addition, the RSLC was able to deliver new Republican majorities in the Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee state senates, as well as an unprecedented majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives.