Virginia gubernatorial election, 2009

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The Virginia gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 2, 2009. The winner will be inaugurated in January 2010, and will serve as governor of Virginia until 2014. The current governor of Virginia, Democrat Tim Kaine, is not eligible to run for re-election since Virginia's constitution does not permit governors to serve consecutive terms. State Senator Creigh Deeds and State delegate Brian Moran have both announced that they will seek the Democratic nomination.[1] Attorney General Bob McDonnell, a Republican, has declared that he is preparing to announce his candidacy.[2] Since 1976, Virginia has elected a governor of the party opposite that of the sitting President of the United States.[3]

Contents

[edit] Candidates

[edit] Democratic Party

Creigh Deeds ran for Attorney General in 2005.
Creigh Deeds ran for Attorney General in 2005.

Democratic State senator Creigh Deeds, who ran for Attorney General of Virginia in 2005, which he lost in the closest race in Virginia history, announced that he would be a candidate December 13, 2007.[4] Delegate Brian Moran, brother of Congressman Jim Moran, joined Deeds on January 4, 2008 when he established a political action committee.[1] Possible candidates who have not announced their intentions are former Congressman Lewis F. Payne, Jr. and former Lt. Governor Don Beyer.[5] Congressman Rick Boucher, a native of Abingdon, Virginia, has stated he will not run.[6] State Treasurer Braxton Powell is also sometimes mentioned as a possible candidate.

Popular former Governor Mark Warner, Kaine's predecessor, was thought to be interested in running again for his old position (for which he is eligible, as Virginia's term limits only prohibit consecutive terms). No other serious Democrat is likely to mount a campaign if Warner runs; however, Warner is seeking the open U.S. Senate seat in 2008, and his candidacy for the governor would hinge on the outcome of that race.

[edit] Republican Party

Bob McDonnell has informally announced his candidacy.
Bob McDonnell has informally announced his candidacy.

Among the Republicans, Attorney General Bob McDonnell announced his intention to run at American Legion's Boy's State of Virginia 2007, though has not made a formal declaration. Should he declare, this would be the sixth consecutive Virginian gubernatorial election where an elected Attorney General has run.

Another possible candidate, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, decided in March 2008 to seek re-election rather than run for governor.[7] Former Governor Jim Gilmore is also occasionally mentioned.[3] Former governor George Allen, who also served one term in the U.S. Senate, declared his intention not to run January 8, 2008.[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Lewis, Bob; Associated Press. "Brian Moran to Set Up PAC for 2009 Run for Governor", WTOP, January 4, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-01-04. 
  2. ^ Mellott, Jeff. "McDonnell Takes Aim At Illegal Immigration", Daily News-Record, 2007-09-29. Retrieved on 2007-10-12. 
  3. ^ a b Craig, Tim. "Virginia Notebook: The 2009 Governor's Race", The Washington Post, November 21, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-04. 
  4. ^ Craig, Tim. "Creigh Deeds Announces Bid For Governor", The Washington Post, December 13, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-23. 
  5. ^ Schapiro, Jeff E.. "What Dem is tops for governor?", Richmond Times-Dispatch, September 23, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-12. 
  6. ^ Craig, Tim. "Rick Boucher Not Interested in Run for Governor", The Washington Post, December 7, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-04. 
  7. ^ Lewis, Bob. "Va.'s Lt. Gov. to Seek Re-Election", Associated Press, The Washington Post, March 24, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 
  8. ^ Somashekhar, Sandhya. "No Second Term for Former Va. Gov. Allen", The Washington Post, January 8, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-01-08. 

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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