(CNN) – Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican attorney general of Virginia, announced Thursday he filed papers to launch a bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in the Commonwealth.
"This morning my campaign filed with the State Board of Elections to formally establish a campaign committee to seek the office of the Governor of Virginia," Cuccinelli wrote in a statement. "Serving as Attorney General of Virginia has been the most rewarding and fulfilling position I have ever held."
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He continued, "I am running for Governor to continue the work I have undertaken during my tenure as Attorney General and as a State Senator. I will continue my work to strengthen our economy, preserve our liberty, and to promote the principles of smaller, more efficient state government, accountable to the people it serves. I look forward to sharing my vision for the Commonwealth following the November elections."
During his tenure as Virginia's attorney general, Cuccinelli has gained a national profile. He was one of several attorneys general to file lawsuits challenging President Barack Obama's health care law, claiming the measure was unconstitutional.
Before being elected attorney general, Cuccinelli served as a state senator from Fairfax County, outside Washington.
The Commonwealth's current Lt. Governor, Republican Bill Bolling, is also running to become the GOP nominee for Virginia governor. A primary election will take place June 12.
Governors of Virginia are limited to a single four-year term, but may run again after being out of office for four years.
CNN's Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
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Coochy Cuccinelli has almost destroyed VA, and now he could finish the job he and McDonnell started out to do.
This guy is a creep. He promotes spitful religious policies that insult Virginians. When he left for the AG position his seat went to a Democratic moderate. Virginians elected McDonnell because he claimed to be a moderate – and he ist not. Cuucinelli's record is cleaar – Virginians won't elect some one as arogant and radical as Cuccinelli.
These republican states should get a brain and throw out these republican bums and then maybe they could catch up to the northeast in income and healthcare. It seems every state that has a teapublican moron gov has all kinds of problems, no thanks.
I'll bet it's been "rewarding". Cantor probably gives him insider trading information. Republicans need to be kiccked out AGAIN and kept out until they learn that we do NOT live in a Fascist (Corporatist) nation.
Ohhhhhh God. Where can I contribute to kick this clown out? Ken Cuccinelly is the worst Attorney General the nation has ever seen.
Not a chance this nutjob will ever be governor. He should be made to repay the state for the hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars he wasted pursuing his witch hunt against that UVA professor. This guy is a disgrace. And not very smart either for an AG. He got his lawsuit tossed aginst the helath care law because the state lacked standing to file when it did. Virginia can and will do a lot better.
Any state that elects a republican gov is just asking for trouble, throw the bums out for good. Send them to somila where they can run a similar government.
Hope he knows more about being a Governor than he showed at the MCAT Hearings.
Is it just me, or does it look like he is doing the Jedi Mind Trick on the guy in the background.
If it was so rewarding how about staying there?
A lot of people see but a few knows ssssss
This guy his very dangerous.va moving back words.
Figures another confederacy buddy of the governor of VA. This guy is a clone of mcdonnel who thinks that after all they both have done to take Virginia back a few decades is going to get him elected.
Yes, the cucchi man gained notoriety but not the kind that will help him get elected. Then again, it IS VA looked who they picked for their governor. Mr. prod women who are pregnant but he changed his mind and just wants untrasounds now. The rethugs really and truly hate women.
So, do the people of Virginia really want someone who doesn't go through Congress and goes overboard for taking a law to court. Is it really something that shows leadership or partisian ideology? We have plenty of that in NJ and hasn't done us much good.
If the state of VIRGINIA wants CUCCINELLI then he should remain at the post he is familar with.
Cuccinelli is corrupt because he has a posse of cronies. Try googling about his involvement in state lawsuits brought against the Affordable Care Act. He steered the lawsuits to judges who were appointees or political donors by always filing papers within one of their jurisdictions. Political allies.
This is the same guy who had the the breast of the woman on the the Commonwealth's flag covered. He's a zealot and doesn't have my vote.
I live in VA and I can tell you from experience that this guy is a nightmare.