CHESAPEAKE, Va. - EW Jackson announced on Monday he's running for the republican nomination to challenge Tim Kaine in the US Senate.
Jackson, a former republican candidate for lieutenant governor, made the announcement on the John Fredericks Radio Show.
Four candidates have announced they plan to run for the nomination, including conservative Corey Stewart, Culpeper County Delegate Nick Freitas, and Fairfax County lawyer and Army veteran Ivan Raiklin.
Kaine is running for re-election in 2018. The republicans are likely to face-off in a primary in June, Jackson said.
Jackson said he learned a lot from his run for lieutenant governor in 2013. "Because I'm a Bible believing Christian, I have to be careful about how I say things," he said, noting his pro-traditional marriage viewpoint doesn't mean he hates gay people. "I learned that lesson in some ways - the hard way."
Democrats are already pushing back on his candidacy. "Jackson is notorious for his offensive, disgusting views," said Susan Swecker, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, in a statement. "We can't trust someone with this twisted worldview to fight for all Virginians in the Senate."
Jackson said he wants to bring conservative ideals and Christian values to Washington, but says as a minister he loves even those he disagrees with. "That's a message I'm going to try to communicate more effectively than I have in the past."
