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.