Beau Biden has revealed his future political intentions.
The Delaware Attorney General, a Democrat, announced on his campaign website and in a message to supporters that he will not run for another term as AG this November. He will instead turn his attention to a 2016 run for Governor.
"Over the past few months, as I’ve been planning to run for reelection, I have also been giving a great deal of thought to running for Governor in 2016. What started as a thought – a very persistent thought – has now become a course of action that I wish to pursue," Biden wrote.
The 45-year-old Biden adds he did not feel comfortable running for Attorney General, while knowing he had his sights set on the Governor's office.
"The Office of Attorney General is a four-year commitment. Its responsibilities are too significant, and the voters’ trust too important not to give it my complete and undivided attention. It should not be, nor can it become, a two-year staging ground for another elected office," wrote Biden.
The unexpected announcement drew quick reaction from political figures up and down the state.
“Attorney General Beau Biden has served out state well, both as Attorney General and in his National Guard role," Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) told Delaware Public Media. "While I was somewhat surprised by his announcement that he is not seeking a third term in the critical law enforcement post as Attorney General, I think its obvious to all of us he has a bright future and I look forward to his continued service to the state and the people of Delaware."
"I think Beau has been a great public servant. He's been a great Attorney General, really focused on keeping people safe. He's got an incredibly bright future and i think ts a really exciting announcement," said Gov. Jack Markell (D-Delaware).
"I admire the Attorney General for being forthright about his intentions to run for governor. He has done quality work for the state and should be proud of his accomplishments," said Delaware Democratic Party chair John Daniello in a statement. "In the short term, I am sad to see him leave (the AG's office), but I am proud of him for his honesty about his goals and in giving other people the opportunity to run for office. Our primary focus remains the 2014 election. Over the next few days and weeks we will work to recruit a qualified candidate for Attorney General and continue to support our current slate of Democratic candidates.”
Biden has made limited public appearances since he sought treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas last August where he underwent what was called a “successful procedure” to remove a small lesion from his brain.
Biden also suffered what he called a “mild” stroke in 2010. A new book chronicling the 2012 presidential election characterized that stroke as life threatening, which Biden refutes.
He did release a statement from his doctor in February that give him a clean bill of health.
Delaware Republican Party chairman Charlie Copeland says he hopes Biden is healthy and believes his health should be his top priority, but adds the issue is one he sees as a legitimate concern regarding Biden as a candidate.
"If you're a private citizen, your health is a private matter," Copeland told Delaware Public Media. "But if you were elected to do a job or you want the voters to support you to do a job, they have to know that you can do it and that you'll be there. And so, clearly he is not been healthy and I hope he gets better."
State Senator Gerald Hocker (R-Ocean View) adds he thinks health may have factored into Biden’s decision to bow out of the 2014 AG’s race.
"I’m not so sure that it’s not for health issues. We’ve seen very little of the Attorney General. We’ve heard very little from him. I wish him the best in his recovery. I hope he has recovered, is on the mend and at 100 percent to make this Governor’s run," said Hocker.
Copeland says the Delaware Republican Party does not yet have a candidate to run for Attorney General this year, but notes the party is actively talking to a number of potential candidates.
The governor's seat will be open in 2016 because Gov. Markell is in his second term and term limits keep him from running again.
Biden is the first to announce publicly an intention to follow Markell in office.
Lt. Governor Matt Denn and U.S. Rep. John Carney have also been considered Democratic contenders for governor in 2016. Denn is in his second term as Lt. Governor after a stint as the state's Insurance Commissioner. Carney ran for Governor in 2008 and lost a close primary to Markell. He was Lt Governor for 8 years before that run for the state's top office.
Markell doesn't see Biden's announcement necessarily creating an issue for Democrats in 2016.
"There's a lot of time for all of that to play out," Markell told Delaware Public Media in an interview Thursday. "I think in the meantime Beau has proven himself as Attorney General and done a great job. I thank him for the work he's done and I'm excited about what his future may hold."
Carney also said he doesn’t view the announcement as a bad thing.
“Well, I think it’s good news for Beau. He’s been a good Attorney General and obviously now he’s focusing on running for governor in two years. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him about that, but I wish him well,” said Carney.
Denn, who is also considered a potential candidate for Attorney General, offered a statement of where he stands following Biden's announcement.
"I have been asked today if I would run for attorney general this year, and my response has been that, until this morning, I hadn’t given it any thought. So 2014 is not a question to which I have an answer today. I have been focused on being Lt. Governor and on issues like reining in workers' compensation costs, strengthening small businesses, improving schools, and helping kids with special needs," said Denn in his statement. "For the last year, I've also consciously taken time to focus on being a good husband and a good father to my boys, and had put a decision about running for governor in 2016 on the back burner. But Beau is a good friend and a formidable candidate and those are things to consider when making the decision down the road about 2016."
