U.S. Sen. Jim Webb says he won't seek re-election

For Sen. Jim Webb, who successfully championed the largest expansion of veterans benefits since World War II and is trying to launch a major reform of the nation’s criminal justice system, serving only one six-year term in Congress is enough.

The Virginia Democrat – a decorated war veteran, former Navy secretary and an author of bestselling books before being elected in 2006 – announced on his 65th birthday that he won’t run again.

Webb said in a e-mail Wednesday it is a “great and continuing privilege” to serve in the U.S. Senate but offered no specifics on why he won’t seek re-election.

“After much thought and consideration I have decided to return to the private sector, where I have spent most of my professional life,” he said. “Notwithstanding this decision, I have every intention of remaining involved in the issues that affect the well-being and the future of our country.”

His decision breaks open the race for his Senate seat next year, with Democratic and Republican activists each trying to spin the news to their advantage.

Republicans already have two announced candidates: George Allen, a former U.S. senator and Virginia governor, and tea party activist Jamie Radtke. They predict that the Democratic nominee will have to run with President Barack Obama and defend policies that they think are unpopular in Virginia.

Webb has supported some Obama programs, including voting in favor of the new health care law, but also has been critical of the president, noting in a recent Norfolk speech that the president “did a really terrible job handling health care reform” because he relied on Congress to draft a plan.
Democrats say they’re sorry Webb is leaving but believe they can identify a strong candidate to replace him.

Webb’s most celebrated achievement in the Senate was the passage in 2008 of a new G.I. Bill, a college aid program for veterans that gave troops in current wars benefits comparable to those provided to Americans who fought in World War II.

This week, Webb introduced a bill calling for a commission to do a major review of the nation’s criminal justice system with an eye toward overhauling it.

“Jim Webb is an American original. He is a patriot, an intellectual and a man who has devoted his life to serving his country,” said U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia. He said it’s too soon to talk about who might run for Webb’s seat.

“I think today should be about honoring his service,” Warner said, adding that he was pleased his colleague did not wait a long time to make the decision. “It gives us time to get a good candidate.”

Warner said it’s a testimony to Webb’s strength as an incumbent that no one is waiting in the wings. “The process begins now,” he said.

Among the Democrats being mentioned by some activists are former Gov. Tim Kaine and former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello of Albemarle County.
Kaine, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, issued a statement Wednesday that praised Webb’s service and lamented his decision to leave but predicted Democrats would keep control of the Senate seat.

Kaine has indicated in the past he isn’t interest in running for the Senate, but activists in both parties think he can’t be counted out.
“Look how he got his current job. He said he didn’t want it and wouldn’t do it, but when the right people said 'We need you,’ he said yes,” a person close to Kaine said Wednesday.

Pat Mullins, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, said he expects that Kaine will eventually decide to run.

A spokesman for Perriello, who is out of the country, said the former congressman hasn’t decided whether he will seek the nomination.

A spokesman for Terry McAuliffe, a former Democratic National Committee chairman who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2009 but has remained active in state politics, said his boss would talk about his plans sometime in the future.

In a recent television interview, McAuliffe appeared to rule out a Senate bid.

“No, Senate is not my deal. I like to make executive decisions, to see them implemented tomorrow,” said McAuliffe, who is expected to run for governor again in 2013.

Also Wednesday, state Del. Kenny Alexander, a Norfolk Democrat, said he is thinking about running for the seat.

On the Republican side, Allen, who lost in 2006 to Webb by 9,300 votes, said in a statement that he respected the Democrat’s service and avoided any criticism of his old foe.

“I did not enter into this race to run against any one person, but to fight for the families of Virginia to improve their opportunities in life,” Allen said.

Jamie Radtke, of Chesterfield County, who is a former state leader of the tea party movement, said she hopes that Webb’s departure will cause Republicans to focus attention on the differences among the party’s own candidates instead of on unseating the incumbent.

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com

Julian Walker, (757) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com

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REACTION

Brian Moran, chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia

“I join the millions of Virginians who are disappointed that we will not have the chance to vote for him again in 2012, but he ran in 2006 to get us out of Iraq, stand up for economic equality and take on tough issues like criminal justice reform. His departure is a loss to Virginia and the nation but we all agree he has done more than his share to accomplish these goals and for that he deserves our gratitude.

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Pat Mullins, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia

Now, instead of facing the most hotly contested Senate race in the country with the advantages of incumbency, they must deal with a nomination contest and then face a Republican candidate in the fall ...  Senator Webb's announcement makes their slim majority in the U.S. Senate look all the more precarious.

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Tim Kaine, chairman of the Democratic National Committee and former Virginia governor

“I had hoped that Senator Webb, having worked tirelessly to help elect him in 2006, would run for reelection and continue his service in the Senate. ...   With the investments that President Obama and the Democratic Party will make in Virginia in 2012, I am confident that our party will hold on to this Senate seat in 2012.”

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U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, leader of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Commitee

"... Democrats will field a strong candidate. The 2012 Virginia Senate race will be competitive but Democrats will prevail there just like we did in 2006 and 2008.”

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Brian Walsh, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee

"We can only hope that Democrats succeed in recruiting President Obama’s number one cheerleader in Washington – Tim Kaine.”

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Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican

“Senator Jim Webb has spent his life serving our Commonwealth and our country. ...  I applauded his leadership in passing the Post-9/11 GI Bill expanding education benefits to veterans. I greatly appreciated his partnership and leadership in addressing the proposed closing of Joint Forces Command. Jim Webb puts his country first, and I thank him for the public service he has long provided, while looking forward to the continuation of that service, albeit in a different capacity, in the years ahead.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.