Warren County GOP Mass Meeting Results Challenged After Allegations of Voting Irregularities

A formal contest has been filed challenging the results of the February 12, 2026, Warren County Republican Committee (WCRC) Mass Meeting, alleging widespread procedural irregularities that could invalidate the election for chairman and decisions made during the meeting.

The appeal, submitted to the Sixth District Republican Committee, was filed by Scott Lloyd, a candidate for chairman, along with other members of the Republican Party in Warren County. The filing argues that the meeting violated multiple provisions of the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) State Party Plan, potentially affecting the integrity of the vote and the structure of the local party committee.

The document outlines a series of alleged problems with the meeting, including voters being turned away, improper ballot distribution, failure to verify voter eligibility, and destruction of official records. Petitioners say these issues undermine confidence in the outcome and require corrective action.

“This appeal is not about personalities or factions,” the filing states. “It is about the integrity of the Committee’s processes. If the Republican Party is to demand election integrity from others, it must enforce it within its own ranks.”

Allegations of voters turned away

One of the central claims is that qualified Republican voters were denied entry to the meeting at the Front Royal Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department building.

According to the contest rules, doors closed around 7 p.m., preventing additional participants from entering, even though voting did not begin until after 8 p.m. The filing says some voters arrived on time but could not find parking, and others were turned away despite the official call for the meeting, which did not specify a deadline for voter registration.

The document claims the number of people denied entry may have ranged from nine to more than forty individuals.

Because the reported margin in the chairman’s race was 19 votes, the filing argues that the number of voters excluded could have changed the outcome.

Questions about who presided over the meeting

The filing also claims the meeting did not follow the required procedures regarding who presides over a mass meeting.

Under the RPV State Party Plan, the local committee chairman is expected to preside over the meeting until a temporary chair is elected. The challenge states that Sixth District Chairman John Massoud presided over the opening of the meeting, instead of which the petitioners argue was inconsistent with party rules.

Ballot distribution and vote totals are disputed

The contest describes chaotic ballot distribution during the meeting.

According to the filing, several individuals handed out ballots independently, and at least 10 to 15 ballots were issued without recording who received them. The document also cites conflicting numbers reported during the meeting:

• 425 eligible voters reported by the credentials committee
• 441 eligible voters reported from the floor
• 431 ballots actually cast

Petitioners argue that the lack of documentation makes it impossible to verify the final vote count.

Allegations involving voter eligibility

The challenge further claims that voter eligibility rules were not consistently enforced.

Under the Republican Party of Virginia’s rules, individuals who participated in another party’s nomination process within the previous five years must renounce that affiliation in writing before voting in a Republican mass meeting.

The filing states that the forms used at the meeting did not contain the required renunciation language and that the credentials committee did not collect the required written renunciations.

Witness statements included in the filing also allege that Democratic Party members were observed casting ballots while some Republican voters were denied entry.

Claims that records were discarded

Another significant allegation concerns the handling of official meeting records.

The filing states that attestation forms and ballot records were discarded, preventing verification of who received ballots.

Without those records, petitioners argue it is impossible to confirm the accuracy of the final vote tally.

“An election that cannot be verified cannot be validated,” the filing states.

Dispute over committee membership structure

The document also challenges a decision made during the meeting regarding the size of the Warren County Republican Committee.

The official call for the meeting stated that participants would elect up to 251 committee members. However, the filing claims that the meeting ultimately adopted a rule limiting membership to 102 members.

Petitioners argue that such a structural change was not included in the official call for the meeting and therefore should not have been considered.

Requested remedies

The petition asks the Sixth District Republican Committee to take several actions, including:

• Setting aside the results of the February 12 chairman election
• Voiding actions taken by the leadership chosen at that meeting
• Restoring former chairman Thomas McFadden Jr. as interim chairman
• Calling a new mass meeting to conduct a valid election

The filing argues that the reported vote margin, combined with alleged procedural violations, renders the outcome “indeterminate.”

Review process ahead

Under the Republican Party of Virginia’s rules, appeals and contests of party proceedings are reviewed by higher party committees.

The Sixth District Republican Committee will now determine whether the allegations warrant further action, which could include ordering a new mass meeting or allowing the results to stand.

The dispute comes after one of the largest mass meetings in recent Warren County Republican Committee history, reflecting growing participation and heightened interest in the local party’s leadership.

The outcome of the contest could determine both who leads the committee and how the organization is structured moving forward.

Document filed with the 6th District.