Cuccinelli Is First to Enter AG Race

State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-Fairfax), one of Northern Virginia's few conservative elected officials with deep roots in the conservative wing of the Republican Party, announced plans today to run for state attorney general in 2009.
Cuccinelli, 39, is a proven campaigner who narrowly won reelection last fall in western Fairfax County despite the region's increasing tendency to choose Democrats at the polls. He touted his conservative credentials on such issues as illegal immigration, gun rights, the death penalty and abortion as evidence that he can court Republican votes and round out a conservative GOP ticket that will also feature Robert F. McDonnell, the current attorney general, for governor, and Lt. Gov. William T. Bolling, who will seek reelection next year.
"We have the opportunity to have the strongest ticket that Republicans have fielded in years, many years," Cuccinelli said. "And I believe I can round out that ticket, bringing in my history of conservative leadership and a strong grassroots network based here in Northern Virginia."
Cuccinelli is the first Republican to announce plans to run, but he is sure to have competition for the GOP nomination in addition to the general election in 2009. Other names circulating as possible contenders include former state lawmaker and federal appointee Paul Harris, one of Virginia's few African-American Republican leaders; David Foster, chairman of the Arlington County School Board; and state Del. Robert B. Bell (R-Charlottesville).
Cuccinelli is a partner in the law firm of Cuccinelli & Day. He was first elected to the Senate in a 2002 special election. He serves on the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.
By Steve Fehr |
March 31, 2008; 11:52 AM ET
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Amy Gardner
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Election 2009
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Posted by: Anonymous | March 31, 2008 2:02 PM
If Cuccinelli becomes AG I will move to MD. He is one of just a handful of VA lawmakers to vote AGAINST an upgrade to VA's animal fighting laws. And he was completely unrepentant about it! Come on - animal fighting! It's a no brainer. Dog fighting is almost always associated with drug running, illegal weapons trafficking, and gang violence. Yet animal fighters have had no better champion in the VA legislature than Cucinelli.
Do we really want an AG who is so extreme on something as uncontroversial as animal fighting? What other bizarre views would he come to office with?
Posted by: Anonymous | March 31, 2008 2:41 PM
Cuccinelli may not be perfect but he was light years better than his opponent last time. She had no clue what she was talking about. She visited my home and refused to answer the simplest policy questions. ALl she said was that she wasn't a Republican. Not exactly the type of deep policy thought that we deserve. The same goes for Judy Feder runnign against Frank Wolf. Until both sides have people running on issues and not sound bites we are doomed.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 31, 2008 3:58 PM
I just love it when people say they will move because someone is elected to an office. Does anyone really follow through on those threats??? Oh wait a second... who cares if you move. Part of being in a democracy is having people elected that you don't agree with. If they all held your viewpoint this wouldn't be a democratic society. By the way, I'm a liberal and proud of it. But wouldn't move because a republican is elected.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 31, 2008 4:06 PM
It was 50/50 when Sen. C was re-elected: 50% was due to his campaigning, and 50% was due to the poor campaigning of his opponent. I wouldn't vote for him for AG. His views on the separation of the branches of government are frightening. I once questioned him about the ambushing Republicans were giving (percieved) Democratic judges when they were up for reappointment. It wasn't about their actions being unprofessional, violations of judicial cannons, etc., it was about their decisions from the bench. I'm not talking about outrageous decisions, or ones not supported by the law. I'm talking about ones that conservatives didn't agree with. He thought that it was perfectly reasonable. I decided that he wasn't - reasonable that is.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 31, 2008 4:08 PM
Yes, please, can't we get Cooch to resign while he's campaigning for AG? I'd rather have no representation than have that goober in there one minute more.
Posted by: CallMeSkeptical | March 31, 2008 4:19 PM
Ken Cuccinelli on the statewide Republican ticket would weaken the ticket and likely ensure that the Democrats will retake the Attorney General's office. He is a doctrinare ideologue who, in the interest of ideological purity, has taken a series of extreme positions in the General Assembly. I support some of his general positions, but am very uncomfortable with his rigidity. And positional rigidity is a terrible trait for the Commonwealth's Attorney General to have.
Cuccinelli's voting record is going to come back to haunt him in the A.G. race. The only way he can win that office is if he's at least as lucky in drawing weak opponents in both the Republican caucus and the general election as he was in his last General Assembly election.
Posted by: zippypinhead | March 31, 2008 5:19 PM
If Kenny runs, then we as upstanding Republicans(we are also Catholic) will release the information about his past with Michael Murphy. This man acts the pious Catholic but his actions should have resulted in his disbarment. However, Slick Kenny pulled another fast one and slid out of testifying under oath. Why does Kenny continue to not reflect his many years as " gopher" to Mike Murphy in Fairfax on his bio or anywhere else.
The convenient sickening sweet local newspaper endorsements are by parishioners who do not know the real Kenny. It is a responsible citizen's duty to be an informed voter - seek and demand more info on Ken Cuccinelli. MEDIA - it is your responsibility - where was Kenny following his exit from GMU Law. What happened in the late 1990s tht led to Kenny jumping firms?
Why did he suddenly leave Michael Murphy's employ - because he was under investigation by the Virginia State bar!
The press should investigate just how the bar polices its own. Do we elect an individual to the position of attorney general because he can so adeptly manipulate the law?
NO SLICK KENNY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.
He doesn't even follow the ten commandments.
Voters please educate yourselves.
Parishioners don't be blinded by his abortion stance. If you remember anything from your government class, he can't do anything about it - federal issue. Pay attention to the crazy things he has introduced, his diatribes in the Senate, his absenteeism and his voting record. Check his background, ask why he has never admitted to working for Michael Murply, how he quickly jumped ship to make it look like he had been a patent attorney for some time. Had to cover up some very unethical actions.
Posted by: With this guy, no party should elect him | March 31, 2008 6:21 PM
But for an extremely weak opponent last November, Cooch would be in the political graveyard.
As a Republican, I will certainly support McDonnell/Bolling, but Cooch will surely lose the AG's office for us.
We MUST have a candidate that the Party can get behind, but also a candidate that business leaders will support. At this point, Ryan McDougle or Terry Kilgore look to be our only decent choices. Rob Bell is an arrogant jerk who is widely disliked outside of his House district, so he's off-the-table.
Posted by: Not Brian Moran | April 1, 2008 10:20 AM
But for an extremely weak opponent last November, Cooch would be in the political graveyard.
As a Republican, I will certainly support McDonnell/Bolling, but Cooch will surely lose the AG's office for us.
We MUST have a candidate that the Party can get behind, but also a candidate that business leaders will support. At this point, Ryan McDougle or Terry Kilgore look to be our only decent choices. Rob Bell is an arrogant jerk who is widely disliked outside of his House district, so he's off-the-table.
Posted by: Not Brian Moran | April 1, 2008 10:23 AM
yawn
Posted by: Anonymous | April 6, 2008 9:51 PM
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Any chance he will resign from the House while running his campaign? That could prove to be a great way to get rid of him for good (assuming he doesn't get elected).