E.W. Jackson nominated by Republican Convention for Lt. Gov of Virginia

The Republican convention in Virginia nominated firebrand conservative minister E.W. Jackson (pictured), for Virginia lieutenant governor.

Jackson is the first African American, the Republican party has nominated for statewide office in the state since 1988.

Jackson provoked the loudest ovation of the day at from the Tea Party-dominated Republican Party convention in Richmond on Saturday, declaring in an impassioned speech, “I am not an African American, I am an American!”

He won the nomination on the fourth ballot over six rivals. As the only black candidate, he becomes the first black Republican nominee since the party nominated Maurice Dawkins in 1988.

Jackson heads a nondenominational church in Chesapeake and credits his religious background for his shift from the Democratic Party. His first GOP bid for office came last year when he lost the U.S. Senate nomination to former Sen. George Allen.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press