Terry McAuliffe, former Democratic National Committee chairman and a top strategist for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, filed papers Monday for a potential run next year for Virginia governor.
McAuliffe, who is planning a 60-day tour of Virginia before he announces his decision next year, would add a third Democrat to an already hotly contested primary field seeking to succeed Gov. Tim Kaine. Kaine is constitutionally forbidden from seeking a second term.
Monday’s move to create a campaign committee signals the McLean resident has begun to set up the requisite infrastructure for a run. If he opts to seek the nomination, he would face two state legislators: Brian Moran, an Alexandria delegate who heads the House Democratic Caucus, and Creigh Deeds, a rural Virginia senator who lost a bid for attorney general in 2005 by a razor-thin margin.
“They’re great legislators, but what Terry offers is a choice for people who might want a different point of view,” said Mo Elleithee, a spokesman for McAuliffe. “The last two governors we’ve had, who have done a fantastic job, did not come from the legislature … we’ve proven that not all good ideas come from the legislature, and not all good ideas come from Richmond.”
Kaine served as mayor of Richmond and lieutenant governor before winning election to the governor’s mansion. His predecessor, Mark Warner, was a telecommunications executive.
Representatives of the two Democratic rivals said they welcomed McAuliffe to the race, but were quick to draw distinctions between their candidates and the former DNC chairman. Deeds has “got a better appeal in every corner of Virginia than both of the candidates,” said spokesman Peter Jackson.
The Moran campaign said: “Given Mr. McAuliffe’s previous ambitions to run for governor of Florida, he needs to explain to the people of Virginia if he’s doing this for the right reasons.”
The victor in the primary will face Republican Attorney General Robert McDonnell in the November general election.
