CNN
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Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia announced Friday that he will run for re-election in 2024.
“I am serious about what I am doing with my time in the Senate and am very pleased to announce that I will be running for a third term in the Senate. Richmond, Virginia.
Kane’s announcement could come as a relief to Democrats facing a difficult 2024 map and an uphill climb to maintain a narrow majority. An open Virginia seat may have been better suited for competitive racing, Virginia governor he turned Republican inside out in 2021.
Video of Kane’s event on Friday was provided by Richmond-based CNN affiliate WTVR.
Explaining his decision on Friday, Kane, the former Virginia governor who was Hillary Clinton’s running mate in the 2016 presidential election, said: I am a servant. i love virginia I am proud of what I have done. I had more and more things I wanted to do. These are the four reasons. ”
Kane was first elected to the United States Senate in 2012. At a roundtable Friday before his announcement, he told attendees that he ran for the Senate after 16 years in state and local offices because he had issues “wanting to get through,” including tribal approval. said. , marriage equality, immigration reform, and better gun safety.
“We’ve done two out of four,” he said, adding that the time may be ripe to reach a longstanding agreement on immigration reform. My instincts and some of the conversations I’ve had with colleagues tell me that we’re reopening the door for good immigration reform discussions.”
“Virginians have shown they are willing to vote for the Republican Party given the right candidate and the right political environment,” Maggie Abboud, spokesperson for the National Republican Senate Committee, said in a statement. said.
“We will keep a close eye on Virginia and focus on recruiting strong candidates who will have the resources we need to compete,” Abboud said.
This story has been updated with additional developments.