Former Delegate Harris Mulls AG Run

Former Virginia House of Delegates member Paul Harris announced today that he is considering running for the Republican nomination for attorney general next year.

"I am consulting with Republican Party and conservative leaders around the state,'' Harris said in a statement. "I continue to receive strong encouragement to run for attorney general from prominent Republican leaders, former colleagues from the Justice Department, former constituents from the 58th House District, and from citizens in every region of this great Commonwealth."

Harris, an Army veteran and former U.S. Deputy Attorney General, served two terms in the House representing Albemarle County, just outside Charlottesville.

State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax), one of Northern Virginia's few conservative elected officials with grass-roots support across the state, recently announced plans to run. But Harris, who is black, could add diversity to the statewide GOP ticket. Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell is expected to run for governor and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling plans to seek re-election.

Harris said he will decide by early May whether to run.

"In the weeks ahead, as I weigh the decision whether to run for attorney general, I will continue to reflect upon two important life lessons that my mother said should always guide my life: be true to yourself and always give back,'' he said.

By Anita Kumar |  April 8, 2008; 3:07 PM ET  | Category:  Anita Kumar , Election 2009 , Ken Cuccinelli , Robert F. McDonnell
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