McAuliffe Seeking Another Run For Virginia Governor In 2021

RICHMOND, VA — Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe will seek another term as Virginia governor.

McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014 to 2018, announced his campaign on Wednesday for the 2021 gubernatorial race. Before first running for Virginia governor, McAuliffe chaired the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005, and co-chaired former President Bill Clinton's re-election campaign in 1996 as well as Hillary Clinton's presidential run in 2008.

In Virginia, governors may not serve consecutive terms but can run for future terms. Current Gov. Ralph Northam served as McAuliffe's lieutenant governor.

"I am running for governor again to think big and be bold and to take the commonwealth of Virginia to the next level and to lift up all Virginians," said McAuliffe at his campaign kickoff.

McAuliffe joins Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy and state Sen. Jennifer McClellan as Democratic candidates for governor. Carroll Foy or McClellan have the chance of becoming Virginia's first female governor and first Black female governor. Among Republicans, former Del. Kirk Cox, the former House of Delegates speaker, is running. State Sen. Amanda Chase, who is Republican, indicated she will run as an independent.

Carroll Foy, who will be resigning from her House of Delegates position to focus on her gubernatorial campaign, criticized McAuliffe's decision to seek another term as governor.

"Career politicians like Terry McAuliffe are interested in maintaining the status quo," said Carroll Foy in a statement. "But Virginians are calling for change. They want someone who understands their problems as I do because I’ve lived them. While I respect Terry McAuliffe’s service, he doesn’t understand the problems Virginians face. A former political party boss and multi-millionaire, Terry McAuliffe is simply out of touch with everyday Virginians."

McClellan welcomed McAuliffe to the race and said she looked forward to sharing her vision and experience with Virginians.

"This election is going to be about who is best prepared – by life and public service record – with a forward-looking vision to take on the challenges facing Virginians in 2021," said McClellan in a statement. "Today’s challenges require a new approach and a fresh vision to rebuild an economy that benefits all Virginians while addressing healthcare, education, climate and inequity crises."

Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Rich Anderson also released a statement in response to McAuliffe's campaign, criticizing his leadership in response to the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally in 2017 and other points from his years as governor.

"Terry McAuliffe stands for one thing: Terry McAuliffe," said Anderson in the statement. "Virginians need a leader who will sacrifice for them, not put their own ego and ambitions ahead of the public good. After the failure of Ralph Northam, the last thing Virginia needs is four more years of Terry McAuliffe."

McAuliffe made his campaign announcement at Miles Jerome Jones School in Richmond on Wednesday, receiving support from Black leaders such as Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, Virginia House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, President Pro Tempore of the Virginia Senate Louise Lucas, and Richmond teacher Milondra Coleman.

McAuliffe said he will release several plans in the next few months on a "post-Covid" economy with civil and voting rights, attracting businesses and raising wages, strengthening access to affordable healthcare, building a clean energy economy to address climate change, and addressing affordable housing. But on Wednesday, he discussed a plan for an "unprecedented investment in education."

"With a $2 billion a year investment, I'm going to dramatically increase teacher pay, we are going to ensure that every single student in Virginia is online," said McAuliffe in Richmond Wednesday. "We are going to ensure that and expand that every 3- and 4-year-old child at risk here in Virginia gets preschool education and finally address inequities that we have in our schools."

Virginia's gubernatorial elections take place in the year after a presidential election. The primary election will happen in June 2021, although the Republican Party indicated it will instead hold a convention to pick its nominee. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 2, 2021.