Va. Dems will choose '13 statewide slate in primary
Monday - 9/17/2012, 4:03pm ET
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia's Democrats will pick their field of candidates for next year's election for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general in a primary election.
The state Democratic Party's central committee made the decision in Saturday's meeting.
Because Virginia voters don't register by party, next June's Democratic primary is open to all registered voters.
Republicans last fall also chose a primary for selecting their Virginia slate. But after conservatives took over the state GOP central committee, it reversed the decision in June and instead shifted to a closed statewide convention.
No Democrats have formally announced gubernatorial campaigns, though former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe has acknowledged plans to run.
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling have been fighting since December over the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
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