Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., said he won’t run for the state’s U.S. Senate open in 2012.
Connolly, currently serving a second term from Virginia’s 11th District, had been mentioned as a potential candidate for the seat of retiring Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., but took himself out of consideration Friday while reiterating his hope that Democatic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine will run.
“As I said in my recent speech at the Democratic Party of Virginia dinner in Richmond, Tim Kaine is a man of conviction and strong values,” Connolly said. “He has a passion for governing and understands the issues facing Virginia. Tim is a public servant in the truest sense of the word. He would make a great U.S. senator and I hope he decides to run.”
“I am flattered that some would consider me a potential candidate for the U.S. Senate, but there is much work to be done in the House and I love what I do,” he continued.
Kaine, a former governor, is on vacation now, but will reportedly make a decision soon on whether he’ll run for the Senate.
