Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) reportedly warned donors that Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) could launch a campaign for his U.S. Senate seat in 2024 in a fundraising email on Friday. Youngkin is term limited, and cannot seek another term as the commonwealth’s governor.
In a fundraising email, Kaine reportedly stressed the importance of maintaining the Democrats’ current Senate majority, citing the decision of Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) to retire, before addressing “speculation” about Youngkin’s future political ambitions, according to The Washington Examiner.
“We cannot risk a Republican Senate majority in 2024 — but that’s exactly what will happen if I lose my race,” Kaine wrote. The senator reportedly added, “speculation that Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin could challenge me next year” means “now is not the time to get complacent.”
Youngkin’s plans for a future career in politics remain unclear, with the governor having seemingly put the rumors of a last minute presidential bid to rest in a press conference held after the Republicans’ losses earlier this month. In response to questions about his future plans, Youngkin replied that he is “not going anywhere.”
Should he decide to mount a campaign for Senate in 2024, polling from 2022 suggests he will face a tight race against Kaine.
In a match up between the men, a survey published in September 2022 indicated 41 percent of Virginians would support Kaine, compared to 39 percent who would support Youngkin. The University of Mary Washington pollsters reported a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, meaning the men were statistically tied.
At least 10 candidates have declared their intention to seek the Republican nomination to run against Kaine, and Republican candidate Scott Parkinson told The Daily Signal in June that the “race is definitely in play” and “a flip opportunity” for Republicans in 2024.
Jonathan Emord, another candidate seeking to challenge Kaine, told the outlet “the earth is moving out from under Tim Kaine,” and at the time declared Youngkin’s coalition was “growing.”
After the Republican Party of Virginia losing control of the House of Delegates earlier this month, the media’s focus on Youngkin’s “presidential ambitions” was cited by Democrats in a memo explaining their victory in the battleground state.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) noted it directly spent more in Virginia than ever before, and declared, “while national pundits focused on Governor Youngkin and his presidential ambitions,” the Democrats made “about state power and the future” of abortion.
Though Youngkin may face difficulties promoting Republican policies in the Democrat-controlled legislature, last week Democratic Speaker Designee Don Scott Jr. (D-Portsmouth) said he wanted a relationship “reset” with the governor, who previously said he would pursue bipartisan legislation during his final two years in office.
Additionally, two of the governor’s Republican allies in the House of Delegates will retain their leadership positions as the party returns to minority status, including House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah). Gilbert was previously described as a “key ally” of Youngkin who was instrumental to seeing his legislative agenda pursued in the House of Delegates.
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Image “Senator Tim Kaine” by Tim Kaine.
