Warner I'd like to see retire but he's one tier below Shaheen, Durbin, and Markey. He could serve one more term acceptably at his age. Not ideal but he wouldn't be at risk of being another Feinstein.
I don't know how he's going to approach it, but I'd hazard a guess that if he is considering retirement that he's going to wait until after Virginia's elections this year to announce it.
What would our bench be for Virginia anyway? All of our representatives are either freshmen or ancient. McAuliffe and Northam could technically run, but they're barely younger than Warner. McAuliffe torched his reputation by losing to Youngkin and Northam isn't any better after the blackface photos came about. Giving up a state senate seat, even temporarily, could be a disaster after this year's elections and state delegates aren't going to have much of a profile to start with. All the current executive offices are held by republicans, and if that changes our officials will all be in their first year of office for the 2026 elections.
It is unless everyone agrees you should go for it like Sen Rosen did. But, VA is not NV and there is a whole bench of other elected Dems who could run.
Shaheen, Durbin and Markey are top of my list
Warner probably should start considering hanging up the spurs but he’s a good fit for his state
Warner I'd like to see retire but he's one tier below Shaheen, Durbin, and Markey. He could serve one more term acceptably at his age. Not ideal but he wouldn't be at risk of being another Feinstein.
I don't know how he's going to approach it, but I'd hazard a guess that if he is considering retirement that he's going to wait until after Virginia's elections this year to announce it.
What would our bench be for Virginia anyway? All of our representatives are either freshmen or ancient. McAuliffe and Northam could technically run, but they're barely younger than Warner. McAuliffe torched his reputation by losing to Youngkin and Northam isn't any better after the blackface photos came about. Giving up a state senate seat, even temporarily, could be a disaster after this year's elections and state delegates aren't going to have much of a profile to start with. All the current executive offices are held by republicans, and if that changes our officials will all be in their first year of office for the 2026 elections.
McClellan is much younger than the Scott/Beyer/Connolly triad
I thought she was older for some reason. My mistake. At 52 she's definitely young enough to be a viable senate candidate.
Alexander Vindman potentially?
He was just elected to the House. Giving up his seat after one term is a bad look.
It is unless everyone agrees you should go for it like Sen Rosen did. But, VA is not NV and there is a whole bench of other elected Dems who could run.
Maybe Luria? That’s the only other viable candidate I could think of besides McClellan.
I would prefer Warner retire in a Presidential Election year.
Durbin needs to retire NOW. Underwood is ready to go and ready to fight more than he is. Get rid of all the Dems who are too timid to fight.