Rep. Rob Wittman announced Thursday he will not run next year to be the next governor of Virginia and instead will remain in the House.
The decision clears the way for what is shaping up to be a three-person GOP primary race between state Sen. Frank Wagner; Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors; and Ed Gillespie, a former senior adviser to President George W. Bush.
“Like our other three candidates for Governor, Rob Wittman would have been an excellent chief executive for the Commonwealth, and I’m disappointed that he won’t be among the choices on the ballot when Virginia Republicans go to the polls in June 2017,” said John Whitbeck, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia. “While he won’t be our next Governor, I look forward to working with Congressman Wittman as we go forward to Make America Great Again!”
Mr. Gillespie called Mr. Wittman a “good friend and a good man” and said the veteran lawmaker can play a pivotal role in advancing GOP priorities on Capitol Hill.
“Rob Wittman has an important opportunity to work with a Trump administration and our Republican majorities in Congress to advance Virginia’s priorities at a critical time for us,” Mr. Gillespie said.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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