For one night only, the partisanship of a purple state and the heated rhetoric of a dead-even U.S. Senate race will be put on hold.
The Sorensen Institute is hosting its annual gala April 17, featuring all nine living governors of Virginia. Current Gov. Bob McDonnell and eight former executives will have their chance at the mic during the Richmond event.
That means Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican George Allen, political rivals in their quest to replace retiring Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., in November, will make a rare appearance together.
The remaining six governors attending are U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, Linwood Holton, Chuck Robb, Jerry Baliles, Doug Wilder and Jim Gilmore.
The Sorensen Institute at the University of Virginia is focused on training future political leaders — from high school and college students to prospective candidates and business leaders — on ethics in government, public policy and the value of bipartisanship. It’s various programs boast 1,200 graduates including 18 current Virginia lawmakers.
