RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - With Bob McDonnell stepping down, the Virginia General Assembly has picked his chief deputy to become the state's attorney general.

Legislators selected Bill Mims to fill out McDonnell's term, which expires in January. McDonnell, a Republican, resigned Friday to focus on his gubernatorial campaign and urged the General Assembly to replace him with Mims.

"Bob McDonnell was an exceptional attorney general, and I plan to continue his legacy by providing the very best legal services for Virginia's citizens," Mims said.

Mims served in the House of Delegates from 1992-97, in the state Senate from 1998-2005 and in the Attorney General's Office since 2006.

Candidates for this year's attorney general election are Democrat Steve Shannon of the House of Delegates and Republicans Ken Cuccinelli, of the state Senate, and John Brownlee, a former U.S. Attorney.

"Personally this was a very difficult decision to make, but it is the right one for our Commonwealth," McDonnell said when announcing his resignation.

"A campaign for governor demands a full-time candidate. The Office of the Attorney General is the Commonwealth's law firm and demands a full-time attorney general."

Mims was also chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf before he began practicing law.

From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at john@legalnewsline.com.