McAuliffe Expected to Launch Campaign, Carter Hints at Bold Aspirations

Virginia’s 2021 Gubernatorial is beginning to ramp up as Former Governor Terry McAuliffe is expected to announce his candidacy and Prince William County’s Delegate Lee Carter hints at exploring a run.

According to Axios, McAuliffe, who left the Governor’s Mansion in 2018, is planning to launch a campaign to take back the governorship. Virginia’s Constitution prevented McAuliffe from serving two consecutive terms, but there is technically no term limit for Virginia governors when it comes to nonconsecutive terms. The last governor to serve two terms in Virginia was Mills Godwin.

On Twitter, Delegate Lee Carter, a self-described socialist with a large social media following, hinted that he is exploring a run for the Commonwealth’s executive seat. Replying to a tweet that stated, “He said he believes there is a path to victory for him and he is strongly considering running.”

Carter’s reply to the tweet was simply a GIF from The Office that featured the character Dwight Shrute saying, “It’s true.”

Both McAuliffe and Carter would be joining a growing field that as of now consists of Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy and State Senator Jennifer McClellan–either of whom would serve as the first Black woman elected governor in the United States–as well as Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax. Attorney General Mark Herring has already withdrawn from the race in order to run for reelection.

It is unknown when McAuliffe and Carter will make official statements on the matter or what the focus of their potential campaigns would be.

Releated