RICHMOND, Va. (CBSDC) - U.S. Sen. Mark Warner announced he will not seek another term as Virginia’s governor in 2013 Tuesday, ending months of speculation he would run again.

“I loved being Governor, but I have a different job now,” Warner said in a statement Tuesday. “And it’s here, in the United States Senate.”

Warner is credited as one of the instrumental senators reaching across the aisle to help Congress come to a bi-partisan agreement on a new budget.

“I hope my value add in Congress is to continue working hard every day to not simply blame the other side, but to actually try to find common ground so we can get stuff done.”

He served as Virginia’s Gov. from 2002 to 2006, where he worked in a bipartisan way to turn record budget deficits into a surplus.

“At times, it’s been frustrating. But I believe this work is important for Virginia, and for our country, and I intend to see it through.”

Warner’s decision should make Terry McAuliffe, a Northern Virginia businessman, the Democratic frontrunner for the 2013 gubernatorial nomination, according to the Virginia Pilot.