Obenshain makes it official: not running for AG

By J.R. | April 15, 2008
Filed Under Uncategorized |

When State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli declared his intentions to seek the GOP nomination for Virginia Attorney General in 2009, it was expected that State Sen. Mark Obenshain would eventually make clear that he would not seek the nomination. That prognostication came true today.

From Sen. Obenshain:

Over the past several months I have been encouraged to run for Attorney General of Virginia. After great consideration and deliberation, I have decided that I will not be a candidate for that office in 2009.

To have the opportunity to serve Virginia’s citizens as Attorney General would be a great honor and privilege. It is a job for which I feel well suited by my professional endeavors over the past 21 years and by my public service. I have been encouraged by phone calls, e-mails and comments from friends from across Virginia and for that I am grateful.

My family is the abiding consideration for me in deciding to forego a run at this time. I have two children in high school, and I am very proud of them. I understand the sacrifices my family would have to make in order for me to seek statewide office at this time, and they are too great.

Thanks to one and all for the encouragement you have provided both for my consideration of a run for AG, and for my service in the Senate of Virginia.

-Mark

Now, as Old Zach has been tracking, we’ll await the intentions of Paul Harris and John Brownlee. OZ also has speculated that Sen. Ryan McDougle and David Foster could join the race.

Yesterday, Virtucon had a very interesting post about what Rob Bell’s decision to not seek the nomination might mean.

Comments

3 Responses to “Obenshain makes it official: not running for AG”

College Republican Federation of Virginia » AG Poll Update on April 15th, 2008 10:51 am

[…] Mark Obenshain announced on Monday he will not seek the AG’s office. Del. Rob Bell has also decided to […]
Easy Street on April 15th, 2008 11:21 am

First, I think Mark would have made a great AG. It is too bad that he has decided not to run. As far as the other possible candidates, US Attorney John Brownlee is now in the best position to win. With Rob Bell not running, Brownlee will be the only prosecutor in the race. The GOP almost always picks a former prosecutor to be their AG candidate. (Gilmore, Kilgore, McDonnell) The party and public view the Attorney General as a law enforcement position, and Brownlee’s experience as US Attorney will be tough to match by any of the other candidates. I think Brownlee’s possible entrance in the race also puts Cuccinelli and the other possible candidates in a tricky position. In order to win the nomination, they have to convince the party that the AG isn’t a law enforcement slot and that you don’t need to be a prosecutor. If that carries the day, Democrat Steve Shannon (a former state prosecutor) easily gets law enforcement’s support. If a Democrat gets law enforcement’s support in Virginia, he wins. Note that former Commonwealth Attorney Creigh Deeds almost won against former prosecutor Bob McDonnell. Just think if McDonnell hadn’t served as a prosecutor.
Attorney General ‘09: Now Taking Applications [UPDATED] | President-Obama.com on June 13th, 2008 11:36 pm

[…] that they have removed themselves from consideration for the 2009 Attorney General’s race. Bearing Drift has the full text of Sen. Obenshain’s email to supporters, which is titled “Not This […]