Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) is expected to reveal his plan for the 2024 election cycle on Friday, and his decision to stay or go could make a big difference in Democrats’ odds of keeping the Senate.
Kaine, 64, will make his announcement in Richmond, Virginia, on Friday morning, according to multiple reports, after saying a few weeks ago that he hadn’t yet made up his mind about seeking another term in the Senate. Democrats will have a more difficult playing field in 2024, with more of their Senate seats up for election, and an open race in purple Virginia could mean they’d have to focus more energy and resources on the historically safe seat.
HOW A SUPREME COURT CASE IN 2023 COULD PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN 2024 ELECTIONS
The private chatter of Virginia for the last few months finally goes public TOMORROW morning in Richmond, where @timkaine will announce his decision on re-election
Flashback to @RTDSchapiro, who Kaine a few weeks ago told “I haven’t made up my mind yet”
— Jonathan Martin (@jmart) January 19, 2023
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Kaine told Politico recently, “I am acting completely consistent with the intent to run again,” and, “I don’t make a decision until, you know … into next year. But my actions: I am vigorously fundraising, doing everything that a candidate does.”
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) won the governorship in 2021 in a surprise and narrow defeat of former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-VA). Youngkin is barred from seeking a second consecutive term as governor and might have a good shot at the Senate if he chooses to enter the race. Incumbents tend to have an advantage over new candidates.
