 Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell appointed Snyder as Chairman of VA Victory 2012, a state Republican Party committee focused on efforts and fundraising in Virginia surrounding the 2012 presidential and U.S. Congressional elections.Pete Snyder was a candidate for lieutenant governor of Virginia from his announcement in November 2012 until conceding to nominee E. W. Jackson at the Republican Party of Virginia's nominating convention in May 2013.Snyder was thought to be a potential candidate for governor in 2017, but he later declined and instead endorsed Ed Gillespie.