Courtney Lynch, a Marine Corps veteran and founding partner of Lead Star consulting firm, announced her interest in pursuing the Democratic nomination for the 2012 Virginia Senate race last week. She will enter the race against former Gov. Tim Kaine.
Lynch said she chose to run because, "ultimately, it came down to the fact that voters in Virginia need options and diversity of choice when voting," she said. "I've had many different roles. I'm someone an average Virginian can relate to: wife, veteran, attorney, small business owner ... I want to give voters options."
After earning a law degree from the College of William & Mary, Lynch worked as an attorney with a leading law firm, founded Lead Star, a leadership education firm, and co-authored a book about leadership titled "Leading from the Front." She currently serves as a founding member of the DC Leadership Circle for The White House Project, where she promotes the advancement of women in corporations and government.
When asked how Lynch's announcement will affect Kaine's campaign for the nomination, Kaine campaign spokesperson Brandi Hoffine said, "Gov. Kaine has said he isn't taking anything for granted." She reiterated Kaine's commitment to "focus on the economy and jobs" and to make as strong of a case as possible for his Senate bid as he traverses the state for votes.
Hoffine said she is "sure [Kaine] would welcome [Lynch] to the race and wish her the best." She said she believes Kaine is going to primarily focus on his message for Virginians, and he will stay the course for a platform founded on "expanding jobs and educational opportunities in a fiscally responsible way."
Lynch also aims to build her platform on job creation, in addition to education and transportation.
"I have strong interests - jobs, the economy - [and] as a small business owner I know how hard it is," she said. "Jobs are first and foremost my priority." She said she also is focused on working toward innovative and creative solutions to transportation issues. "Education is particularly important," she added. "Are we paying teachers effectively?"
Lynch proclaims herself to be "a pro-choice Democrat, and a strong supporter of the Second Amendment as a former marine. So I don't line up exactly on all issues. Fiscally conservative, but moderate socially."
Kyle Kondik, spokesperson for the University's Center for Politics, said he does not foresee Lynch impeding Kaine's bid for the nomination.
"Although it's always hard to say definitively whether a relatively unknown contender can catch fire and make a move in a primary race, it's hard to see Lynch threatening Kaine," Kondik said in an email. "She doesn't appear to have any real base of support and is unknown to voters. Also, it appears that Virginia Democrats are by and large happy with Kaine as their nominee, and he should have a relatively clear road to the nomination because it appears that bigger-name challengers, such as U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, will stay out of this race."
Lynch views her political inexperience as a double-edged sword. She explained her inexperience might prove to be a hindrance when competing for votes with "career politicians," such as Kaine.\n"If [a career politician] is what the voters want, I don't appeal to them," she said. "If people are pleased with how government is going, then recycle the same politicians into our system ... If people want true innovation and diversity of perspective, they might want to consider voting differently."
Lynch said she is "testing the waters, creating an organization and filing paperwork as if [she is] going to be a candidate."
-Marissa Leal contributed to this article
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