Marshall to Seek U.S. Senate Seat

By Tim Craig

Originally published at 12:00 a.m., January 7, 2008
Updated at 7:37 p.m., January 7, 2008

State Del. Robert G. Marshall of Prince William County announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate on Monday, setting up a GOP nomination fight for the seat held by retiring Sen. John W. Warner. Marshall's district includes much of eastern and southern Loudoun County.

Marshall, known for his conservative views on social issues and taxes, launched his campaign here at the state Capitol. He will challenge former Virginia governor James S. Gilmore III for the Republican nomination.

Del. Robert G. Marshall

Marshall, 63, who has served in the Virginia House since 1992, said his main themes will be protecting life beginning at conception; promoting respect for marriage and traditional families; attacking debt; and reducing the trade deficit.

"My desire to protect every human life, to promote individual freedom and responsibility and to seek the common good are the reasons why I entered public service 16 years ago and why I am running today," Marshall said.

Earlier, Marshall said Gilmore is too moderate on some issues, including his past support for abortion rights during the first trimester of pregnancy. "I did a lot of calling around the state, and I got an excellent response from Republican Party officials," Marshall said. "I just concluded I matched their aspiration for the views they think should be expressed and defended by a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate."

The state Republican Party will have a convention in late May or early June to nominate a candidate who will almost certainly run against Democrat Mark R. Warner, a former governor so far unopposed for his party's nomination.

The two Warners are not related. The incumbent senator, a Republican, announced last year that he would not seek a sixth term.

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