Bill Marshall To Run For Senate Seat

RICHMOND(AP) – Conservative Republican Del. Bob Marshall is challenging a former Republican governor for a U.S. Senate seat this year for the second time in four years.

Marshall said Thursday he will announce his plans and file federal campaign papers next week. He has already created his own campaign organization in Virginia. Marshall registered his committee, Bob Marshall for Senate Inc., with the State Corporation Commission on Monday.

He joins a field of four candidates led by frontrunner George Allen, a former governor trying to win back the Senate seat he lost six years ago to Democrat Jim Webb. Tea party leader Jamie Radtke, E.W. Jackson and David W. McCormick are already in the June primary.

Marshall narrowly lost the nomination in a statewide GOP convention in 2008 to former Gov. Jim Gilmore.

Gilmore lost a lopsided election later that year to Democrat Mark R. Warner for the seat retiring Republican Sen. John W. Warner relinquished after five terms.

Allen’s campaign declined to comment.