With Virginia’s gubernatorial race quickly heating up in advance of the November 2013 election, several candidates have already announced their intentions on running for the office, while one likely candidate quietly stepped aside.

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, thought to be one of the Republican frontrunners, announced in late November that he would not be seeking the nomination, avoiding a possible convention fight with Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who announced his intention to seek the office of governor in late 2011.

Though there has been some speculation as to whether Bolling will run as an independent in the race for governor, he has made no official announcement.

In early 2008, Bolling and then-Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell agreed on a move where Bolling would run for re-election as lieutenant governor to allow McDonnell to run unopposed for governor in 2009. In return, McDonnell would support Bolling for governor in 2013.

McDonnell went on...