Virginia Senate Race

Incumbent On the Way Out	John Warner
Party	Republican
Seeking Re-election?	No, announced retirement on 8-31 CNN
Candidate Website	Senate Website
Other Resources	Congresspedia profile on John Warner

Challenger	Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner
Party	Democrat
Source of Information	multiple media sources Washington Post, 9/13/07
Candidate Website	Campaign Website; Forward Together PAC
Fundraising Link	ActBlue
Other Resources	Congresspedia profile on Mark Warner

Challenger	Fmr. Gov. Jim Gilmore
Party	Republican
Source of Information	multiple media sources The AP Statement (though he or the reporter is confused about when Warner's term is up)
Candidate Website	Campaign Website
Other Resources	Congresspedia profile on Jim Gilmore

Declined Challenger	Rep. Tom Davis
Party	Republican
Source of Information	media reports, 10/25/07
Candidate Website

Declined Challenger	Fmr. Sen. George Allen
Party	Republican
Source of Information	Martinsville Bulletin, 9/13/07
Candidate Website

Potential Challenger	Gail Parker
Party	Independent/Green
Source of Information	Speculation
Candidate Website

Potential Challenger	Fmr Lt. Gov. Don Beyer
Party	Democratic
Source of Information	The Hill (unlikely with Mark Warner's entry)
Candidate Website

Background Information

John Warner currently sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Environment and Public Works Committee, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Senate Committee on Intelligence.

Recently, he has garnered a lot of recognition for calling for a troop reduction in Iraq. This move may possibly been intended to help whoever runs for his Senate seat on the Republican side.

Dr. Larry J. Sabato, a professor at the University of Virginia, had this to say about the election:

The Virginia GOP appears headed for another one of its periodic conservative versus moderate bloodlettings as former Gov. Jim Gilmore and Congressman Tom Davis battle for the party nomination (The key moment may come in the fall when the GOP's governing state central committee decides whether to hold a primary that could favor the moderate Davis or a convention that might tilt to the more conservative Gilmore). Mark Warner's popular governorship would make him a favorite even if the Republicans weren't split, but the possibility of a Republican donnybrook only adds to his edge. However, it must be noted that a Hillary Clinton nomination for President--highly unlikely to be popular in Virginia unless there is a Democratic landslide in progress--would require Warner to secure tens of thousands of crossover, ticket-splitting votes. He'll likely do it, but Clinton won't make it easy for Warner.

Local Blogs
Raising Kaine