Deeds Seeks Reelection

State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, has spent the year since his bruising defeat in the Virginia gubernatorial election rebuilding his law practice, talking to his mule and pondering whether to seek reelection to the state Senate.    For those who don't remember, Deeds finished third in a two candidate race and lost 98 percent of the polling place across the state.    The fantasy area referred to as Deeds Country by his supporters was never found and is seldom mentioned any more.

Deeds, based no doubt on his overwhelming popularity, has decided he'd like to continue his nearly two decades as a Virginia legislator by seeking a new four-year term as the 25th District senator.    Does he have an opponent?    If not his chances are excellent of pulling off a win.


“I’ve swung big twice and missed twice," said Deeds of losses for attorney general and governor.    “I had to reassess to see if there was something else I needed to do with my life.     After reassing there was nothing else he needed to do with his life so he will stick with politics.

“Ultimately, I still care about what I’m doing,”.

Deeds, who has also served in the House of Delegates, said his priorities remain education and transportation.   He spoke during the gubernatorial campaign of increasing public college tuition costs and what those costs are doing to many prospective students.


Since his double-digit loss to now-Gov. Bob McDonnell, Deeds has worked to rebuild his Bath County law practice.   “I’m a country lawyer,” he said.   “I don’t have the support of a big firm.   I don’t have a large population.   I’ve had to focus,” he said.    I'm pretty sure I have the support of my firm.    Deeds also has taught a law class at Washington and Lee University on how lawyers can affect public policy.


William F. Connelly Jr., a politics professor at the university, said it should not be surprising when a politician decides to seek re-election.    But he acknowledged the difficulty after a lopsided loss for governor.    What else can Deeds do but stay in politics.    Its hard to keep the lights on with the earnings from his law business and his mule has to eat.


During the weekend, one of Deeds’ opponents in the 2009 Democratic gubernatorial primary, former Del. Brian Moran of Alexandria, was named chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia.    All we can say is Run Deeds Run.   Run as long as your supporters will fund your effort.

Here is part of a fund raising letter from Deeds.

Since 1991, we have been on a political journey together.    We have had ups and downs, successes and failures, but we have continued to work together to create opportunity in every corner of this Commonwealth.     This coming year will bring decennial redistricting and another election cycle for every seat in the General Assembly.    No doubt many of my detractors consider me vulnerable and maybe even finished.

I am running for re-election because I am not finished.    I am running for re-election because I know that to create opportunity in every corner of this Commonwealth, we have to invest in the necessary transportation and educational infrastructure to support economic growth.    We need a transportation system that will move the workers and goods of a world class economy.    We need to turn out world class workers and attract the best paying jobs in the world to Virginia by taking a backseat to no one when it comes to education.


We need to continue to work for improvement in every public school in this Commonwealth and to make college education affordable.    We cannot allow the glimmer that remains of the American Dream to slip out of the grasp of middle class families.

I am running for re-election because we have much to do to make Virginia government completely responsive to the people.    For over 30 years, Democrats and Republicans have tried to reform the redistricting process.    The legislation I sponsored progressed farther in the process than any prior attempts, and I am committed to completing that journey.    Voters should select their politicians, not the other way around.


I have not made this decision lightly.    The political climate is full of vitriol.    Our economic recovery continues to be slow.    People are frustrated and divided.    I know there are challenges ahead.    But I have proven I am an effective legislator and am committed to building a better future for Virginia.    This campaign will not be easy, and I need your help.    Will you help me in this campaign with your donation of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000, $2500 or whatever you can afford to give?


I appreciate your friendship and support and look forward to working with you to build a better Virginia.


Sincerely,


R. Creigh Deeds

On the night last November that State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D) was defeated by Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) for the state's top job by 17 points, Deeds told the crowd he wasn't done.


"Just because we didn't get the right result tonight doesn't mean we get to go home and whine," he said then. "We still have fight, we still have spirit."


It turns out, it wasn't just rhetoric.    Despite some speculation to the contrary, Deeds says he's definitely running for reelection to the state senate.

The real question is can he raise the funds for a run if he has to face an opponent?     Does anyone other than Deeds still see value in Deeds holding office?