If Tim Kaine is selected as Hillary's VP and they win in November...

[Kevin]

McAullife needs to pick the candidate with the best shot at dispatching Cuccinelli or Comstock, both in 2017 and 2018, and that's either Gerry Connolly or Mark Herring to me.

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Oh god.

Don Beyer is who I think McAuliffe would appoint (NOVA Congressman, former Lt. Governor). And if there's a Senate race in 2017, Wittman could jump into this one since he's behind Gillespie in the governor race.

Don Beyer is one option McAuliffe could choose.

From what I understand Northam wants to be Governor and Herring is focused on getting reelected as AG so they are probably unlikely.

Alot of Democrats have promoted Bobby Scott but he is far too liberal to win outside his district.

The VA GOP actually has a decent bench. Comstock is a possible choice, and I could easily see Wittman jumping the Governor's race to run for Senate.

Also since they are now both out of the job come November Randy Forbes and Scott Riggell are interesting possiblites too. Even Ken Cuccinelli maybe esp. since he is starting to look like a moderate hero out of this whole mess with Trump.

[Kevin]

McAuliffe wants to move into the Senate himself

Yeah the Governor → Senator pipeline has been pretty consistent considering George Allen, Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine. I bet McDonnell would've tried to run in 2014 before the corruption stuff. If McAullife is to follow the trend, I think he'll appoint someone he knows will step aside in 2018, but I don't think that's a good idea quite honestly.

Given that McAuliffe has legal problems of his own I don't think he will run for Senate. He will remain aside for another Democrat to attempt to hold the seat.

[Kevin]

Congratulations, future Senator Dave Brat.

That's probably one person that would not win statewide, even in an off-year.

Is Brat really that bad? He perfectly combines libertarians and evangelicals, and if he gets Webb and Bolling to endorse/campaign for him, he could easily win over the mainstream Republicans for a strong coalition.

Yes he is,

He'd get killed in NOVA and is a very poor fit for VA outside his district.

[Kevin]

Congratulations, future Senator Dave Brat.

That's probably one person that would not win statewide, even in an off-year.

Perhaps. After Scott Brown, 2010, and 2014 midterms I am deeply cynical about elections after a Democrat wins.

Same, but VA Democrats won't get caught napping like MA Democrats. They are surprisingly competent. Plus, until Republicans find a way to stop bleeding in NOVA, they just won't be winning any statewide elections.

The problems of the GOP in VA mirror those that they have nationwide.