--- title: Jim Webb Drops Out of Democratic Primary description: Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb plans on Tuesday to drop out of the Democratic primary. canonical: https://time.com/4079524/jim-webb-campaign-end/ author: Sam Frizell article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-10-20T14:49:50.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-14T00:13:43.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: Jim Webb Drops Out of Democratic Primary og:description: He said he is disillusioned with increasing polarization. og:url: https://time.com/4079524/jim-webb-campaign-end/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltab19de4f69314f47/698867e90b72e31aa16e647d/jim-webb1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: Democratic Presidential Hopefuls Attend Iowa Democratic Party Hall Of Fame Awards og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Jim Webb Drops Out of Democratic Primary twitter:description: He said he is disillusioned with increasing polarization. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltab19de4f69314f47/698867e90b72e31aa16e647d/jim-webb1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Jim Webb Drops Out of Democratic Primary > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=41703133-84ab-4b0b-97f8-916718d81fb6&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Updated: Dec 14, 2023 12:13 AM UTCPublished: Oct 20, 2015 2:49 PM UTC  Democratic presidential candidate and former Virginia Senator Jim Webb speaks to guests at the Iowa Democratic Party's Hall of Fame Dinner in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 17, 2015. Democratic presidential candidate and former Virginia Senator Jim Webb speaks to guests at the Iowa Democratic Party's Hall of Fame Dinner in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 17, 2015. Scott Olson–Getty Images by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Updated: Dec 14, 2023 12:13 AM UTCPublished: Oct 20, 2015 2:49 PM UTC Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb said Tuesday he has decided to drop out of the Democratic primary and is considering a run as an independent. Webb, who has long expressed frustration with the two-party system, said at an event at the National Press Club that he is abandoning the race in part because he is disillusioned with the increasing polarization in American politics and is increasingly at odds with the values of the Democratic party. “Our political candidates are being pulled to the extremes. They are increasingly out of step with the people they are supposed to serve,” said Webb. “I fully accept that my views on many issues are not compatible with the power structure and the nominating base of the Democratic Party.” His departure from the Democratic primary sounded partly like an introductory campaign speech and partly a grim diagnosis of the American political system. Webb bemoaned the influence of money in elections, paralysis in Washington D.C. and the difficulty of an outsider candidate to win an election. “Over the years, whether I’ve worked with Democrats or Republicans, my basic beliefs—principles of leadership and love of country—have never changed,” said Webb. “But we must be honest here, because the very nature of our democracy is under siege, due to the power structure and the money that finances both political parties.” **Read More:** [_Jim Webb Enters 2016 Race Leaning on Foreign Policy_](http://time.com/3945196/jim-webb-2016-foreign-policy/) Webb struggled for months to get out of the shadow of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who have thus far dominated the race, preventing other candidates from gaining traction. He languished at around 1% in most national polls. Despite his poor showing in the primary, Webb is considering whether to run as an independent, saying he could win considerably more traction and financial support outside the Democratic Party. “It’s been very difficult in the Democratic primary process with the dominance of one candidate not only in her candidacy but in the structure of the Democratic Party, the traditional financing structure, the hierarchy themselves, the DNC,” Webb said. When Webb was asked how he would faire against Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in a general election, he said, “if we ran an independent race and got traction, I honestly could see us beating both of them.” If Webb decides to run as an independent, there is a chance he could disrupt the Democratic nominee’s campaign in Virginia, where Webb won a Senate race in 2006 despite being outspent by his opponent. Virginia is likely to swing for the Democrats in next year’s general election, but if Webb splits the Democratic vote in his home state, a Republican could win Virginia’s 13 electoral votes. But while Clinton and Sanders campaigned on grueling schedules in New Hampshire and Iowa, Webb was often absent, visiting Iowa just a couple of times and only occasionally hitting the campaign trail. He had just a few paid staff, but some disillusioned campaign workers left shortly after joining. Some former staff members were shocked by the lack of organization in the campaign and said that Webb seriously underestimated the task of running for president. A decorated Vietnam war veteran and former Secretary of the Navy under President Reagan, Webb cast himself as a foreign policy savant in a race more focused on domestic issues. He has a natural connection with rural white voters, and while he embraced criminal justice reform earlier than other candidates, declined to say “black lives matter” during the Democratic debate when asked. Webb said during the Democratic debate that he felt stymied by moderator Anderson Cooper and added afterward that the debate was rigged in favor of Clinton and Sanders. His remarks afterward reflected his position in the Democratic primary: “In that kind of environment it was either going to be Mr. Angry or be a potted plant,” Webb said. **Read Next:** [_Jim Webb Mulling Independent Run for the White House_](http://time.com/4078905/jim-webb-independent/) ### See the 2016 Candidates' Campaign Launches  Sen. Ted Cruz kicked off his campaign for 2016 Republican presidential nomination at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. on March 23. Tom Williams—CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images  Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul launched his bid for the Republican nomination at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville on April 7\. Supporters held signs with the slogan "Defeat the Washington Machine / Unleash the American Dream." Amy Harris—Corbis  Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced her campaign in a YouTube video posted April 12 that has been seen nearly 4.5 million times. One boy featured in the video boasted about playing a fish in a school play. Hillary For America  Florida Sen. Marco Rubio announced his campaign for the Republican nomination during a rally at the Freedom Tower in Miami on April 13\. He took a drink of water during the speech, a callback to his State of the Union response in 2013. Wilfredo Lee—AP  Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders announced his bid for the Democratic nomination across the street from the U.S. Capitol on April 30, 2015\. The backdrop was unusual, since most candidates rail against Washington. Jonathan Ernst—Reuters  Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson announced his bid for the Republican nomination at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts May 4, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The launch featured a gospel choir covering Eminem's "Lose Yourself." Bill Pugliano—Getty Images  Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina announced her campaign for the Republican nomination in a conference call on May 4, then went on "Good Morning America" to talk to George Stephanopoulos. Lou Rocco—Getty Images  Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee announced his campaign at a community college in his hometown of Hope, Ark., on May 5\. Singer Tony Orlando (right) performed. Left: Danny Johnston; Right: Matt Sullivan—Getty Images  Republican presidential candidate and former New York Governor George Pataki (C) greets supporters after formally announcing his candidacy for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination in Exeter, N.H. on May 28, 2015. Dominick Reuter—Reuters  Former Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee announces his candidacy for the democratic presidential nomination at George Mason University in Arlington, Va. on June 3, 2015. Win McNamee—Getty Images  Republican Senator Lindsey Graham announces his 2016 presidential candidacy in Central, S.C. on June 1, 2015. Erik S. Lesser—EPA  Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is joined by his wife Katie O'Malley (R) as he announces his intention to seek the Democratic presidential nomination during a speech at Federal Hill Park in Baltimore on May 30, 2015. Jim Bourg—Reuters  Former Texas governor Rick Perry announces his candidacy for Republican presidential nominee at an event held at Addison Airport in Addison, Texas on Thursday, June 4, 2015. Louis DeLuca—Dallas Morning News/Corbis  Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush waves on stage as he announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination during an event at Miami-Dade College - Kendall Campus in Miami on June 15 , 2015. Joe Raedle—Getty Images  Donald Trump holds up his financial statement showing his net worth as he formally announces his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination during an event at Trump Tower in New York City on June 16, 2015. Brendan McDermid—Reuters  Republican presidential candidate and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal formally announces his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination in Kenner, La. on June 24, 2015. Jonathan Bachman—Reuters  Republican presidential candidate and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie formally announces his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination during a kickoff rally at Livingston High School in Livingston, N.J. on June 30, 2015. Brendan McDermid—Reuters  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker greets supporters after announcing that he will seek the Republican nomination for president in Waukesha, Wis. on July 13, 2015 . Scott Olson—Getty Images  Ohio Governor John Kasich arrives on stage to formally announce his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination during a kickoff rally in Columbus, Ohio on July 21, 2015. Aaron P. Bernstein—Reuters ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4079524/jim-webb-campaign-end/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4079524/jim-webb-campaign-end/"},"headline":"Jim Webb Drops Out of Democratic Primary","datePublished":"2015-10-20T14:49:50.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-14T00:13:43.000Z","description":"Former Virginia Sen. 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