Attorney General Mark Herring to run for re-election in 2017

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced Wednesday that he plans to run for re-election in 2017, in turn taking himself out of the running for the Democratic Party gubernatorial nomination.

“We’ve helped change lives for the better here in Virginia – change that would not have happened without the powers and authority of this office. That means our hard-won progress is as fragile as the next election – and for that reason, I am running for re-election as attorney general,” Herring said in a statement.

The move is a bit of a surprise politically. Dating back to 1993, the last six people elected to serve as attorney general have been their party’s nominee to run for governor.

But only two of those candidates – Jim Gilmore in 1997 and Bob McDonnell in 2009 – were successful in their bids.

Herring’s move seemingly puts Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam as the early favorite for the Democratic Party gubernatorial nomination in 2017, though his relatively low profile could open the door for other candidates to enter the race.

“I am so proud that Mark Herring is ready to build upon the progress he’s made as attorney general and is seeking the office for a second term,” Democratic Party of Virginia chair Susan Swecker said in a statement. “There’s so much at stake in the next election; after all, Virginians haven’t forgotten the disastrous results of an attorney general’s office controlled by Republicans for two decades. It wasn’t so long ago that Ken Cuccinelli brought his right-wing ideology to the job by bullying the state Board of Heath, harassing a scientist at UVA, and leading a failed Affordable Care Act suit.

“Mark has shown a completely different approach to being attorney general – one that prioritizes the law and the people of Virginia. I welcome his decision to run for re-election and look forward to continuing the great work he’s done for the Commonwealth,” Swecker said.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who served as governor of Virginia from 2002-2006, said Herring “has served the Commonwealth with distinction as a State Senator and now as Attorney General, and I look forward to him continuing as our attorney general.”

“I am proud of the leadership he has brought to the attorney general’s office and his commitment to equality and justice for all Virginians.  I look forward to continuing to work with my good friend Mark Herring for many years to come,” Warner said.

– Story by Chris Graham