The GW College Republicans will host Robert McDonnell, the Republican candidate for governor of Virginia, at their fall semester kickoff event, the organization announced Monday.

McDonnell will speak Sept. 2 at the Marvin Center. Doors for the event will open at 6:30 p.m. The event is open to all GW students, faculty and media who would like to attend. No tickets are required.

President Barack Obama won Virginia in the 2008 election, but McDonnell has gained considerable momentum for the state’s gubernatorial election this November. The most recent Washington Post poll of registered voters in Virginia had McDonnell leading the race, garnering 47 percent of the vote to Democrat Creigh Deeds’ 40 percent.

Obama was the first [edit: Democratic] presidential candidate in more than four decades to win Virginia.