Former GOP Congressman Denver Riggleman crossed party lines last week by endorsing Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia.
In his 30th year of serving in public office, Kaine is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Kaine was Hillary Clinton‘s running mate in her bid for president in 2016 and he seeks a third term in the U.S. Senate.
Kaine’s opponent, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Hung Cao, a Republican, served in the Navy Special Operations and was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. Cao made an unsuccessful bid in 2022 against U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton in Virginia‘s District 10 and has never held elected office.
Riggleman, who served one term as representative of Virginia‘s District 5, broke ties with former President Donald Trump after the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and served on the U.S. House select committee that investigated the attack.
“Sen. Tim Kaine is a good man who has always looked out for Virginians,” Riggleman said in a statement obtained by The Washington Post. “Tim is thoughtful on policy and is willing to work across the aisle to deliver for Virginians across the Commonwealth.”
After he presided over a same-sex wedding, Riggleman, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer and distillery owner, lost a GOP nomination in 2020 to Bob Good. Trump supported Riggleman in two elections.
“I’m honored to have earned Congressman Riggleman’s endorsement. He knows how important it is to put party aside to deliver for Virginians,” Kaine said in a written statement.
Kaine has worked with Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Katie Boyd Britt of Alabama and Joni Ernst of Iowa on a variety of issues, including NATO, childcare and fentanyl.
Riggleman has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president of the United States, and also endorsed Rep. Abigail Spanberger in her bid for re-election to Virginia‘s District 7 in 2022.
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Rebecca Barnabi
