Breaking: GOP Senator John Warner Announces He'll Retire
At a press conference in Virgina right now, GOP Senator John Warner just announced that he plans to retire. Here's his key quote:
"So, I say that my work and service to Virginia as a senator -- and I repeat, my work and service to Virginia as a senator -- will conclude upon the 6th of January, 2009, when I finish, in the Constitution of the United States on the first Tuesday of the new Congress, my career of 30 years in the United States Senate."
Warner's retirement is huge news -- it dramatically alters the electoral map for 2008, making gains in the Senate even more likely for Democrats. Many analysts think that Warner's retirement means that his seat is an almost-certain Dem pickup, should former Democratic governor Mark Warner decide to run, as many expect.
If Mark Warner does pick up the seat next year, it will mean that not one, but two Senate seats in this southern state flipped from red to blue in a mere two years. Last year, of course, Senator Jim Webb won a surprise victory over GOP incumbent George Allen.
Virginia's Richmond Times-Dispatch has a rundown on Warner's career here. The Virginia blog Raising Kaine games out the far-reaching impact that this will have on Virginia politics here.
More in a bit, including video.
Late Update: Here's a quick rundown on how Warner's retirement will play out among Republicans angling for his seat. John Warner's protegé Congressman Tom Davis is expected to make a run for it — likely opening up his Northern Virginia House seat to a Democratic takeover. There remain a large group of conservative activists who distrust Davis, so he may face a right-wing challenger such as former Governor Jim Gilmore, who recently dropped out of the Republican presidential race.
Can the GOP hold the seat? Probably not, due to Mark Warner's popularity. But the GOP definitely has a fighting chance, given the state's Republican lean in presidential election years. Considering Gilmore's unpopularity when he left office — succeeded by Mark Warner — and his embarrassing campaign for the presidency, he would likely be a much easier opponent for Mark Warner to defeat than Tom Davis, who has a political base in the swing areas of Fairfax County and Northern Virginia as a whole.
Bottom line: Mark Warner is heavily favored to win the seat for the Democrats, but it's not certain just yet. — eric kleefeld
Later Update: A key quote from the statement issued by fellow Virginia Senator Jim Webb:
“While today is a bittersweet announcement for Virginia, the nation and the Senate, it bears emphasis that Senator Warner still has more than a year in office. During that time, he will continue to play a crucial role in formulating a more rational policy in Iraq. Just last week, we saw his leadership and independence on display once more. The President would do well to listen to John Warner during his last year in office.”
Won't happen, but it's a nice sentiment.
Comments (28)
EH wrote on August 31, 2007 2:20 PM:Only 30 years? Seems longer that the fmr. Mr. Taylor first graced us with his presence.
Mike wrote on August 31, 2007 2:30 PM:Congrats to John Warner for his...
30+ years of public service
Longest serving Republican senator in VA
2nd longest serving VA senator (behind Harry F. Byrd, Sr.)
here's to Senior Senator Jim Webb and Junior Senator Mark Warner in 2009 ;)
That may explain why he was so bold as to break with Bush on Iraq, although at this point there doesn't seem to be much risk for Republicans to distance themselves from King George. He's dragging their party down.
The Dems still seem to be afraid of Bush/Cheney, though.
I can see a Warner (Mark) pick-up if he's not on the presidential ticket.
jasan wrote on August 31, 2007 2:55 PM:I hope the Democratic party that we put into power will now develope some spine. I think that the advisors to our senators and representatives should look for new work if they are so afraid.
kingstongirl wrote on August 31, 2007 3:10 PM:Isn't George Allen also standing in the wings to make a comeback?
Anonymous wrote on August 31, 2007 3:30 PM:"Isn't George Allen also standing in the wings to make a comeback?"
We can only hope.
V
Macaca II : the return of the prodigal son... That's gonna be high comedy if Macaca runs again. Wouldn't surprise me though - he's the Dubya type, completely devoid of shame.
Anonymous wrote on August 31, 2007 3:43 PM:He'd be dogged by the video if he does run. He couldn't come up with a convincing explanation for it then so who thinks he could now?
V
hurray, one more seat towards rendering Lieberman irrelevant.
philjames wrote on August 31, 2007 4:42 PM:Northern VA is not going to vote for Tom Davis over Mark Warner. It's as simple as that. If Warner and Davis face off--it's Warner by a mile. Warner was an extremely popular Governor and largely responsible for Kaine keeping the Dems in the State House. Davis has a lot of baggage. Gilmore is a much weaker candidate than Davis. And George Allen's reputation is basically shot. There is simply no one on the Republican side who can match up against Warner.
KYJurisDoctor wrote on August 31, 2007 4:44 PM:Sad to see him go. The one that needs to go, Larry Craig, hasn't left yet!
http://OsiSpeaks.com or http://OsiSpeaks.org
Rusty Austin wrote on August 31, 2007 5:03 PM:Good riddance to another warmongering corrupt douchebag.
GordonsGirl wrote on August 31, 2007 5:22 PM:Should Hillary be the candidate, did this just make Tom Vilsack's VP dreams a little more real? I would think it more important for the party to have Mark Warner run for the Senate than as Clinton's running mate.
Legalize wrote on August 31, 2007 6:09 PM:Perhaps he can cap off his service by actually leading other GOPers to break with the Bush Crime Family, and getting down to reparing the damage he has permitted to occur.
AWB wrote on August 31, 2007 7:45 PM:Whoever runs for Congress or for re-election, I'd advise them to make like the female Astronaut, & stock up on a supply of DEPENDS Adult Diapers, so they can avoid ever being even SEEN in Public Bathroom, Airport or otherwise!
Also, to only go into any Public Restroom, if they absolutely gotta go, with at least one or two of their Political Hacks (sorry, "Aides") doing "guard duty" while they do their "doody"!
Especially if they are Dems or Independents, because for sure Republican Karl Rove "Dirty Trickster" types will be out in force, to try to destroy their enemies. I would not put it past them to set someone up, who is totally innocent.
Sen. John Warner is a Republican, sure, but at least he was a Statesman, not like the jokes who control his party now. Maybe he's leaving because he hopes to be a V.P. candidate.
That may explain why he was so bold as to break with Bush on Iraq
Not really; John Warner has never been a right-wing true believer. He is a Republican of the old school, and the Virginia GOP has not been terribly happy with him since he refused to endorse Oliver North's run for the U.S. Senate in 1994 (endorsing Republican-turned-Independent Marshall Coleman instead, which pretty much guaranteed that incumbent Democrat Chuck Robb would keep the seat).
Isn't George Allen also standing in the wings to make a comeback?
If he is, he'll be standing there a long time. George Allen's political career in Virginia is toast.
And to Rusty Austin: Warner may be a hawk, but it is very unfair to call him a warmonger. He is not. Nor has there ever been even a hint of corruption on his part. I have quite often disagreed with his politics, but he is a decent man, and I have always respected him. Your choice of words says far more about you than it does about him.
slb wrote on September 1, 2007 12:52 AM:Sorry, that was me posting anonymously above. I forgot the personal info didn't transfer from TPMMuckraker.
scoovyzoo wrote on September 1, 2007 1:39 AM:What's up with the "corrupt douchebag" post? My goodness. Look, just because Warner was a Republican doesn't make him a bad guy. I think he was a solid senator, as are guys like Spector and Lugar. There are class acts still around on both sides of the aisle. You just have to find them.
dr. fnord wrote on September 1, 2007 4:04 AM:in the late '90s, when Slick Willie was busy making government fun again, enough to keep me paying attention, John Warner was one of my favorite acts on the Senate floor. the man did good morning business. thinking back makes me miss Paul Wellstone, too. and reminds me that the gov't would do well to replace the House with some fighting robots and a pair of dice, for all the good it does.
Recurse wrote on September 1, 2007 4:43 AM:Many analysts think that Warner's retirement means that his seat is an almost-certain Dem pickup,
Why is this the belief when John Warner got 83% of the vote in the last election for this seat?
mfw in fairfax wrote on September 1, 2007 5:13 AM:John Warner got 83% of the vote in the last election for this seat
In the last election, Warner's only opponents were a pair of libertarian kooks. The Democrats didn't even field a candidate.
Hmmm, it seems unlikely then that (Mark) Warner might end up a candidate for VP on a Democratic ticket come convention time. Shame, i thought Hilary Clinton and Warner might make a very interesting ticket.
Mike wrote on September 2, 2007 10:35 AM:John Warner got 83% of the vote in the last election for this seat
When it was Warner vs. Warner for the Senate 1996, Mark got about 47.5% to the (18 year) sitting senator's 52.5%.
Let George Allen Jr. go to summer camp with his father who also had no principals.
Chris O. wrote on September 3, 2007 1:42 PM:"and reminds me that the gov't would do well to replace the House with some fighting robots and a pair of dice, for all the good it does."
And how many solid pieces of legislation has the House passed that the Senate STILL hasn't acted on, exactly?
EXR wrote on September 3, 2007 11:32 PM:As a Virginian. let me weigh in here. I heard Geoge Allen and Tom Davis speak an an event a few weeks before the election. Allen was an idiot. He couldn't even hit on the softball questions that wer lobbed up to him. Davis was much better and he was doing his best to distance himself form George Bush/Cheney during the discussion.
Gilmore is a relic who didn't do much good for the state. I'd love to see Mark Warner run. I think he could win.
I have tremendous respect for Sen John Warner despite the fact that I am liberal and usually vote democratic. Sen Warner has shown integrity and independence. We'd be lucky if more politicians were like him. Read his Wikipedia bio sometime.
drv wrote on September 4, 2007 12:17 AM:"Read his Wikipedia bio sometime."
You mean before some Conservatives get ahold of it and make him out to be a traitor?
