Mark Herring to Campaign for Attorney General Seat at Greenspring

Virginia State Sen. Mark Herring (D-33rd) will be at the Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield on Wednesday in his bid for Virginia's Attorney General seat. 

Greenspring is home to 1800 registered voters, and 89 percent of them voted in the last presidential election. 

''Virginians are ready for fundamental change in the office of the attorney general,'' Herring told MetroWeekly.com. ''That change starts with having an attorney general who will promote equality, rather than sow division.''

Herring is calling for a federal investigation of Virginia's current Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Gov. McDonnell for receiving gifts, stock and other financial dealings with Star Scientific Inc. 

“When a gift of $15,000 is showered on a public official and that company has business in front of the state, it certainly raises questions about whether there might be some quid pro quo,” Herring told the Washington Post.

Herring, who lives in Leesburg, was elected to the State Senate in 2006. He previously represented Leesburg as a Supervisor on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. He's a graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law, and also has degrees from the University of Virginia in economics and foreign affairs.

• See: Virginia Teamsters Endorse Herring

Herring's opinions greatly differ from those of the administration of Governor Bob McDonnell. Earlier this month, the Virginia state legislature approved a measure by McDonnell that prohibits certain health insurance companies from providing coverage for women seeking an abortion.

“Women should be able to make decisions about their own health care without interference from politicians here in the state Capitol,” said Herring.

Herring, 51, narrowly won a straw poll last month against his primary opponent, Democrat Justin Fairfax, at  Rep. Gerry Connolly's (D-11th) 19th Annual St. Patrick's Day Fete. 

• Sen. Mark Herring: 52 percent 
• Justin Fairfax: 48 percent

Herring is leading in campaign contributions $407,529 to Fairfax's $292,183, according to recently released figures from the Virginia Public Access Project.

The Democratic primary for the Attorney General seat will be held June 11, 2013. 

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