Meet VPAP's June Primary Pundit
This summer, Jonathan Lyle of Goochland County has produced some world-class tomatoes and one near-perfect VPAP pundit contest entry.
Last month, the tomato aficionado bested 309 others in VPAP’s pundit contest. Jonathan, 67, most closely predicted the outcomes of Virginia’s five congressional midterm primaries that were held on June 21.
His longtime use of VPAP may have given him an advantage.
“I’ve been reading VPAP, gosh - I won’t say since the week you started publishing, but for a while.”
Jonathan’s strategy included reading VaNews to “see what the reports in the news system are saying out there,” he said. “I did not consult TVs, astronomers or astrologers.”
He was one of 18 contestants who guessed the winners of all five primaries.
The toughest pick was the GOP primary in CD 7, where more than half of pundit hopefuls went with the most recognizable name, State Senator Bryce Reeves. But Jonathan, a Republican with a strong Libertarian streak, got it right by picking Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega.
Jonathan knew how to think like a CD 7 voter. Goochland County had been part of the 7th district until last year’s redistricting process moved it to CD5.
“Quite frankly, it was like, well, who would I vote for if I was in that district still?”
The first tiebreaker didn’t live up to its name – all 18 finalists correctly guessed that Rep. Don Beyer would get less than 85% of the vote in the CD 8 Democratic primary.
Jonathan sealed his victory with the second tiebreaker, which asked contestants to predict the percentage of the vote State Senator Jen Kiggans would win in the CD 2 GOP primary.
He guessed 56.27% – less than one percentage point away from the actual 55.69%.
I thought “she would do well, even in a four-way race, and thought that she would get more than half [of the vote].”
Part of his insight may stem from his own experience winning elections.
“I am elected to the “what’s that?” office,” which is also known as the Soil & Water Conservation District Board. He also serves on the Goochland Farm Bureau board.
“I married into a farming family. I got to drive the hay rake, but not the baler, because if you screw up the hay rake, that's a 15-minute fix. You screw up the baler, that's an all-day fix.”
These days, he describes himself as a “farmers market vegetable purveyor” and is watching his cherry tomatoes grow on the vines this summer.
“I like ‘em, that’s why I grow ‘em. You don’t see me growing brussel sprouts, and there’s a reason.”
Earlier in his career, Jonathan worked with Virginia Tourism for 15 years and can tell you the best places for just about anything around the Commonwealth.
“I’m not talking just the Williamsburgs and the Mount Vernons,” Jonathan said. It’s about “getting to what I would call ‘real Virginia’.”
“Some of the best peaches you're ever gonna get are at Shawnee Springs up there at Cross Junction” off of Route 522.
As for tomatoes?
“Manakin ‘maters – none of that Hanover stuff.”
July 6, 2022
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