Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe won’t contest the White House in 2020.
That’s a change of pace after a flurry of Democratic hopefuls announced their candidacy for their party’s presidential nomination.
“We’ve got issues in Virginia, and I’m concerned about Virginia,” McAuliffe said Wednesday on CNN. “Beginning tomorrow, my focus is going to be to win the House and Senate in Virginia … I’m going to coordinate these campaigns in the House and Senate.”
McAuliffe, who said he would make a decision about the race by March 31, traveled to early-voting state South Carolina as recently as last month. On Wednesday, he did not directly answer questions whether his sights were set on Virginia’s 2021 gubernatorial election after the commonwealth’s 2019 cycle.
“It’s about helping people,” he said. “I would loved to have done it as president. I’m still a young man. You’ll see what happens. This is a real opportunity. I started it. I need to finish it.”
The 62-year-old is a stalwart of Democratic politics. He was Virginia’s governor from 2014-2018, served atop the National Governors Association from 2016–2017, and led the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005. He also co-led former President Bill Clinton’s 1996 reelection campaign in addition to leading Hillary Clinton’s 2008 White House bid.
McAuliffe’s exit clears the moderate lane for likely contender former Vice President Joe Biden in a crowded primary field that is getting dragged to the left end of the political spectrum. McAuliffe’s announcement comes on the heels of lesser-known candidates, such as Reps. Eric Swalwell of California and Tim Ryan of Ohio, launching long-shot efforts for the presidency.
Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam and state Attorney General Mark Herring, also a Democrat, in February were embroiled in controversy when blackface photos emerged in yearbooks from their formative years.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, at the same time, was accused of sexual assault by two different women. Fairfax has denied the allegations.
