Virginia Delegate Chris Saxman announced yesterday that he will not challenge Jim Gilmore for the Republican Senate nomination in 2008:
ARLINGTON, Va. — A Republican state legislator said Saturday he will not run for a U.S. Senate seat from Virginia next year, leaving former Gov. Jim Gilmore currently uncontested for the GOP nomination.
Four-term Del. Christopher B. Saxman said he is forming a federal political action committee, but will not use it to seek the seat of retiring Republican Sen. John Warner in 2008.
“A bid for federal office in 2008 would require me to raise money during the upcoming General Assembly session,” Saxman wrote in remarks prepared for Virginia GOP leaders and activists at the party’s annual retreat, known as the Advance.
State laws forbid legislators to raise money for state offices while in regular session. Although it doesn’t apply to candidates for federal office, Saxman said that using the exception would violate the spirit of the law.
So far, nobody has stepped forward to challenge Gilmore, whose nomination next year seems all but guaranteed.
