Democrats breathe sigh of relief over Kaine’s 2024 run
Samantha-Jo Roth
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Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) announced Friday he will seek a third term, delivering some welcome news for Senate Democrats as they seek to defend their majority in 2024 with a particularly difficult Senate map.
Virginia is considered a must-keep seat for Democrats with control of the chamber on the line. The Virginia Democrat and 2016 vice presidential nominee’s decision Friday likely prevents a crowded primary field while also giving Democrats an advantage, as Kaine is a popular incumbent.
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A Kaine retirement would have been a political nightmare for Democrats in a swing state coveted by both parties, placing even more pressure on Democrats as they try to hold on to their narrow majority in the Senate.
Currently, Democrats and the independents who caucus with them hold 51 seats in the chamber. Of the Senate Democrats up for reelection, seven are in states that went for former President Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, or both. There are no Republican seats up in states won by either Hillary Clinton in 2016 or President Joe Biden in 2020.
Additionally, Democrats have more than twice as many Senate seats to defend in 2024 as Republicans, and the party is now suffering yet another hardship with Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s (D-MI) recent decision not to seek another term.
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“One person breathing a sigh of relief has got to be Sen. Schumer,” said Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist and longtime staffer to the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). “As Democrats look forward to a challenging 2024 cycle, this helps, but we are still not out of the woods yet.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) commended Kaine’s decision, saying the Virginia senator “has fought tirelessly for his home state and for working families, and I’m confident his best years are yet to come.”
Virginia Democrats also rejoiced following Kaine’s announcement Friday. “Throughout his entire career, he has been a steadfast servant of Virginians — from Abingdon to Arlington. Time and again, Sen. Kaine has delivered for the people of the commonwealth, and we couldn’t be more excited to send him back to Washington for another six years,” said Liam Watson, a spokesman for the Democratic Party of Virginia.
When asked what kind of pressure to run he was facing from Schumer and other Democrats, Kaine said everyone had been “good at encouraging” him to get in the race while also giving him space and time.
“I think it was Abraham Lincoln who said, ‘I’m a slow walker, but when I do walk, I don’t turn back.’ Having made the decision, I’m all in. I’m ready to run very, very vigorously,” Kaine said on Friday.
There had been speculation that Kaine might retire after he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch earlier this month that he hadn’t decided whether he would run again. Some believed Kaine could be leaning toward retirement after his experience with long COVID-19, which he has spoken about openly. Last year, he sponsored legislation in an effort to fund research on the condition.
Republicans were encouraged by Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R) 2-point victory over former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) in 2021, a signal that the state is still purple despite its leftward shift. Senate Republicans say despite Kaine’s decision to seek reelection, they are still considering the seat a potential pickup opportunity.
“Virginians have shown they’re willing to vote Republican with the right candidate and the right political environment,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Maggie Abboud. “We’re going to keep a close eye on Virginia and focus on recruiting a strong candidate who can raise the resources necessary to compete.”
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As Democrats look to 2024, it appears they are attempting to ensure as many incumbents are running for reelection as possible, specifically in the states that are viewed as competitive. They are also working to protect three of the party’s most vulnerable: Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Joe Manchin (D-WV). So far, only Brown has committed to running again in 2024.
“I hope both run again. While I hope [Kaine’s] decision puts pressure on both of them, I think the reality is that these personal decisions really won’t sway them,” Manley said.