Mark Warner Makes It Official

Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner announced his intention to run for Senate Thursday on his recently launched campaign website.

"I've decided the way I can contribute most to getting our country back on the right track is to serve in the United States Senate," Warner said. "I'm going to work like heck for the next 14 months to get Virginians to hire me."

Warner said he will announce his formal campaign after the state legislative elections in November.

The announcement, which first leaked Wednesday night, gives Democrats another opening to pick up the Senate seat Republican John Warner has occupied since 1979.

The announcement, news of which first leaked Wednesday night, focused primarily on Warner's legislative accomplishments in the statehouse.