Mark Warner says he’ll remain in U.S. Senate and not run for governor in 2013
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner released a statement today announcing he will not seek the Democratic nomination for Virginia governor but will instead remain in the U.S. Senate.
It’s worth noting this decision leaves an open path for Terry McAuliffe to the nomination unless other candidates step into the race.
Warner’s statement follows the jump:
“Over the last year, a lot of Virginians – Democrats, Republicans, and independents – have approached me and asked that I consider running for Governor a second time.
Believe me, being Governor was the best job I ever had. I was so proud that we were able to bring folks together, put partisanship aside, and together we moved Virginia forward.
When folks approached me about running for a second term as Governor, I told them two things: first, I felt that it was better to make a final decision after the 2012 elections. And second, I said I would give it serious, heartfelt consideration – and I have.
I’ve talked to a lot of Virginians I respect, and I’ve talked about it with my family.
But when I asked Virginians to hire me as their Senator, I made a promise to come to Washington to try to be a problem solver. I have to admit, it’s been tougher than I expected. But I’ve tried to keep at it.
It’s what I’ve been trying to do through my bipartisan work to fix our debt and deficits. And you know, I’m actually more optimistic by the day that we’ll be able to get it done.
But even if we avoid the fiscal cliff, we still have much more important work to do here in Washington: immigration reform, improvements to education. We still need a 21st century energy plan, and we still have a lot more work to do to strengthen the economic recovery.
All of these issues will also require tough choices.
I loved being Governor, but I have a different job now — and it’s here, in the United States Senate.
I hope my value add in Congress is to continue working hard every day to not simply blame the other side, but to actually try to find common ground so we can get stuff done.
At times, it’s been frustrating. But I believe this work is important for Virginia, and for our country, and I intend to see it through.
I hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving holiday. And please know that as I count my blessings, one of the things I’m most grateful for is the opportunity to continue to serve the Commonwealth.”
November 20, 2012 - 3:33 PM
Smart move.
Very smart tactical move by Warner. He’d win the gubernatorial race, then lose much of his reputation because of the obstructionist stance of the Va GOP in the General Assembly. Hopefully, both houses of Congress will adopt his approach to less combativeness and more cooperation. Virginia is better for having him as a Senator, just as we were for decades with John Warner, who did the right thing, not the party line.
Just wondering. Not that it has never happened but what’s the record on a Va gov’ner becoming a Va Sen’ter and then moving to be gov’ner again. While he is labeled a “centralist” he sides most of the time with the party…”with reservations” that usually fall when pushed. Talks the talk but don’t walk the walk of a moderate. Scores low on the “leadership” factor and misses more than the average when the roll is called. I’d call him, just about like Timmie Kane, Obama’s (and Reid’s)senator. Mark “lips”, Warner.
He made the right choice if you ask me. Sure it was quite a hard choice for him and his family for him to pass up the chance to again be the top public official in the commonwealth. All Virginians, no matter party choice, should feel lucky to have such a well-respected and dillegent moderate working for us. Is he looking towards a run for a higher office in 2016? 2020?
I still maintain he will run for President in 2016, smart move.
Now if Virginia Republicans are smart enough to nominate Bill Bolling, they easily retain control of the governorship. Bolling would have had a difficult contest aganist Warner, but he can easily beat McAuliffe. Warner will have the most difficult political fight of his career if, as expected, Bob McDonnell chooses to join the long list of former governors who run for Senate (every former governor since Warner has run for Senate). My guess is that McDonnell wins that race and ends Warner’s political career. Warner appears to have been apprehensive enough about running against McDonnell to have seriously considered avoiding it and going back to Richmond, even though that would be considered a demotion in Virginia politics. As for a Presidential bid in 2016, Warner will have a difficult time emerging from a field of Democrats that’s likely to include Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.
Good decision, we need people like him in the Congress.