Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) has finally chosen to speak up to put an end to the raging speculation concerning his political future by openly announcing that he will indeed be making a third run for a term in Senate in 2024.
The 64-year-old legislator ended up making his choice publically known while standing alongside his wife, former Virginia Education Secretary Anne Holton, while making an appearance in Richmond late last week.
“I’m very happy to announce that I’m going to run for a third term in the Senate,” explained Kaine to the gathered press.
“I’m a servant. I love Virginia. I’m proud of what I’ve done. I’ve got a whole lot more to do,” he stated.
Just before this announcement, a number of reports claimed that there was mounting concern and anxiety throughout the Democratic Party about the possibility of another open seat, should Kaine choose to not once again push for re-election for a six-year term. The Democrats ended up losing control of the House during the 2022 midterm elections, and they only just keep hold of the Senate with the help of three independents.
Kaine is known to boast a long resume that includes roles such as Virginia governor, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and mayor of Richmond. He also served as a running mate for Hillary Clinton throughout her horrendously failed 2016 presidential campaign.
Historically, Virginia trended towards being more liberal throughout a number of elections, but Republicans highlighted back in 2021 that they still have quite a bit of power when it comes to statewide victories that included securing the election of Governor Glenn Youngkin (R).
“Look, the success of Governor Youngkin and the statewide ticket in ’21 shows you that, hey, Virginians will vote for Republicans in statewide elections,” explained Kaine, as reported by the Associated Press. “Nobody can take that for granted.”
Republicans have made the argument that the Senate seat for Kaine is in play in the next election.
“Virginians have shown they’re willing to vote Republican with the right candidate and the right political environment,” explained Maggie Abboud, the spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, in an interview with Fox News. “We’re going to keep a close eye on Virginia and focus on recruiting a strong candidate who can raise the resources necessary to compete.”