Virginia gubernatorial election, 2009

The Virginia gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2009. The election will chose both the next Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. The winners will be inaugurated in January 2010, and will serve 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.cite news |url= http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1320159 |title= Brian Moran to Set Up PAC for 2009 Run for Governor |first= Bob |last= Lewis |work= WTOP |coauthors= Associated Press |date= January 4, 2008 |accessdate= 2008-01-04] Attorney General Bob McDonnell, a Republican, has declared that he is preparing to announce his candidacy. [cite news |url= http://www.rocktownweekly.com/news_details.php?AID=12493&CHID=1 |title= McDonnell Takes Aim At Illegal Immigration |first= Jeff |last= Mellott |work= Daily News-Record |date= 2007-09-29 |accessdate= 2007-10-12] Since 1976, Virginia has elected a governor of the party opposite that of the sitting President of the United States.

Candidates for Governor

Democratic Party

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.cite news |url= http://blog.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2007/12/creigh_deeds_announces_bid_for.html |title= Creigh Deeds Announces Bid For Governor |work= The Washington Post |first= Tim |last= Craig |date= December 13, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-12-23] Delegate Brian Moran, brother of Congressman Jim Moran, joined Deeds on January 4, 2008 when he established a political action committee. Possible candidates who have not announced their intentions are former Congressman Lewis F. Payne, Jr. and former Lt. Governor Don Beyer. [cite news |url= http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-09-23-0205.html |title= What Dem is tops for governor? |first= Jeff E. |last= Schapiro |work= Richmond Times-Dispatch |date= September 23, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-10-12] Congressman Rick Boucher, a native of Abingdon, Virginia, has stated he will not run. [cite news |url= http://blog.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2007/12/rick_boucher_not_interested_in.html |title= Rick Boucher Not Interested in Run for Governor |first= Tim |last= Craig |date= December 7, 2007 |work= The Washington Post |accessdate= 2008-01-04] 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. Additionally, McLean resident Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2001-05 and chairman of the Hillary Clinton for President committee has indicated he may considering running. [cite news |url= http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2008/08/mcauliffe_consdiring_09_bid_fo.html?hpid=news-col-blogs |title= McAuliffe Considering 09 Bid for Governor |first= Tim |last= Craig |date= August 27, 2008 |work= The Washington Post |accessdate= 2008-08-27]

Republican Party

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. [cite news |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/24/AR2008032401478.html |title= Va.'s Lt. Gov. to Seek Re-Election |first= Bob |last= Lewis |work= Associated Press |publisher= The Washington Post |date= March 24, 2008 |accessdate= 2008-03-25] Former Governor Jim Gilmore, also a candidate in the 2008 Senate election, is also occasionally mentioned.cite news |url= http://blog.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2007/11/virginia_notebook_the_2009_gov.html |title= Virginia Notebook: The 2009 Governor's Race |work= The Washington Post |first= Tim |last= Craig |date= November 21, 2007 |accessdate= 2008-01-04] Former governor George Allen, who also served one term in the U.S. Senate, declared his intention not to run January 8, 2008.cite news |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/08/AR2008010801952.html?hpid=moreheadlines |title= No Second Term for Former Va. Gov. Allen |first= Sandhya |last= Somashekhar |work= The Washington Post |date= January 8, 2008 |accessdate= 2008-01-08]

Candidates for Lieutenant Governor

Businessman and Russell County Supervisor Jon Bowerbank and former State Finance Secretary and former State Treasurer Jody Wagner have announced their candidacies for Lieutenant Governor as Democrats. Barring a situation where Tim Kaine leaves office and incumbent Republican Bill Bolling is elevated to the governor's office (such as if Kaine were given an appointment in an Obama administration), Bolling is not likely to face serious primary opposition in his bid for a second term.

References

ee also

*United States gubernatorial elections, 2009
*Virginia elections, 2009
*Virginia gubernatorial election, 2005
*Governors of Virginia

External links

* [http://www.billbolling.com/ Bill Bolling site]
* [http://www.jonbowerbank.com/ Jon Bowerbank campaign site]
* [http://www.creighdeeds.com Creigh Deeds campaign site]
* [http://www.bobmcdonnell.com Bob McDonnell campaign site]
* [http://www.brianmoran.com Brian Moran campaign site]
* [http://www.votesaxman.com Chris Saxman campaign site]
* [http://jodyforva.com/welcome Jody Wagner campaign site]