WASHINGTON -- Former Democratic congressman Tom Perriello has announced he will not be running for Virginia governor in 2013.
"I have considered a run for Governor, and am genuinely touched by the outpouring of support. I do not feel called to serve in elected office at this time, but I do not need to have my name on the ballot to be part of the fight," he said in a statement posted by Blue Virginia on Wednesday.
Perriello is a favorite within the progressive community and hit the campaign trail in the 2012 election as a surrogate for President Barack Obama. He is currently president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the advocacy arm of the progressive think tank in Washington, D.C. Perriello served one term in Virginia's 5th congressional district, beating then-incumbent Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Va.) in a long-shot bid in 2008 by just 727 votes.
"Through my work as President of Center for American Progress Action and in my personal capacity, I will continue to fight back against those who attack women's rights, threaten scientists, and pursue an ideological austerity agenda that undermines desperately needed investments in infrastructure, education, and technology that help grow the middle class," Perriello added in his statement.
Perriello was still considering whether to run for governor as recently as a week ago, as The Huffington Post had reported.
The Virginia gubernatorial race is shaping up to be a showdown between Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) and former Democratic National Committee chair Terry McAuliffe.
On Wednesday, Perriello threw his support behind McAuliffe.
"No one has worked harder to prevent this extreme agenda from reaching the Governor's mansion than Terry McAuliffe," said Perriello, referring to the conservative policies of Cuccinelli and his backers. "I hope that progressives and moderates can unite as Virginians choose between the worst of our past and the best of our future. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says what he believes, but those divisive beliefs are devastating to our Commonwealth. I will be supporting Terry and all of those who are willing to put their names on the ballot to keep Virginia moving forward."
Perriello did not immediately return a request for comment.
When the people of Virginia re-elected Barack Obama and sent Tim Kaine to the Senate last month, it revived my deepest hopes that our political process is not broken and our country and Commonwealth are moving forward. From Thomas Jefferson to Barbara Johns to today's DREAMers, Virginians have marched a difficult but decisive path towards expanding freedom, fairness and dignity for all. I love Virginia, the state that gave my father a chance to move into the middle class after graduating from the University of Virginia, and am confident that we will not turn back.
In this spirit, I have considered a run for Governor, and am genuinely touched by the outpouring of support. I do not feel called to serve in elected office at this time, but I do not need to have my name on the ballot to be part of the fight. Through my work as President of Center for American Progress Action and in my personal capacity, I will continue to fight back against those who attack women's rights, threaten scientists, and pursue an ideological austerity agenda that undermines desperately needed investments in infrastructure, education, and technology that help grow the middle class.
No one has worked harder to prevent this extreme agenda from reaching the Governor's mansion than Terry McAuliffe. I hope that progressives and moderates can unite as Virginians choose between the worst of our past and the best of our future. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says what he believes, but those divisive beliefs are devastating to our Commonwealth. I will be supporting Terry and all of those who are willing to put their names on the ballot to keep Virginia moving forward.
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