Conservative Del. Marshall Enters Senate Race

Virginia House of Delegates member Bob Marshall, one of the most conservative voices in Richmond, said on Monday he will run for Virginia's U.S. Senate seat.

Other Republicans in the race include former Sen. George Allen, Bishop E.W. Jackson, Sr., Hampton Roads lawyer David McCormick and Jamie Radtke, former chairwoman of the Virginia Federation of Tea Party Patriots.

But Marshall, 57, from Prince William County, is already looking to the November election and taking on former Gov. Tim Kaine, who is likely to be the Democratic candidate.

 “I can beat Tim Kaine in the Nov. 6 general election,” Marshall said in a statement. “I already have a ‘can do’ record of challenging Tim Kaine and winning in the public arena on major economic and social issues, and I can do it again.”

The primaries for Virginia senate are June 12.  

The announcement  did not go unnoticed by the two heavyweights in the race, the campaigns of former Kaine and Allen.

 "Given George Allen's record of increasing state spending by 45 percent as Virginia's governor and helping turn a record surplus into a record deficit as a U.S. Senator, it's no wonder Del. Bob Marshall believes he can beat Allen in a Republican primary," said Brandi Hoffine, Kaine for Virginia communications director, in a statement.

The Allen campaign also offered its opinion. "George Allen respects Delegate Marshall and through the years they have had the opportunity to work together on a number of issues," said Bill Riggs, Allen Campaign spokesman. "Our campaign remains focused on building on the strong grassroots support we have received throughout the Commonwealth and George Allen’s positive message of proven, pro-growth solutions to reinvigorate the economy and ensure all Americans have the greatest opportunity to succeed."

Marshall has served in the Virginia House since 1992 and is one of its most conservative members. Marshall wrote the amendment to the Virginia Constitution prohibiting same-sex marriage, which was ratified in 2006, and the Virginia Health Care Freedom Act of 2010, the basis of Virginia’s federal court challenge of the federal health-care law.

He is also the sponsor of the current House Bill 1, which would impart the rights of "personhood" to a human embryo at the moment of conception. Marshall said in a statement last month that his bill creates "a civil cause of action for the wrongful death of an unborn child." He says the measure provides "a legal remedy for parents whose beloved unborn baby is killed by the negligent or criminal act" of a third party.

In 2008, Marshall lost by only one percentage point to former governor James S. Gilmore III in his quest to earn the Republicans’ Senate nomination at a 2008 convention to run against former governor Mark Warner (D).