Tim Kaine: No plans to run for president or VP in 2020

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine won't take another shot at the White House in four years, saying he hopes to serve out the rest of his career in public service by staying on in the Senate.

In his first interview since he and his running mate, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, lost the electoral college to Donald Trump but won the popular vote, Kaine told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that he is turning his attention to running for re-election to the Senate in 2018.

"I want to run and I want to serve in the Senate for a long time," Kaine said.

When asked if he would run for president, or consider accepting a spot as a vice presidential candidate on a future ticket, he replied, "Nope, nope."

RELATED: See Kaine through the years

"I want to be John Warner," Kaine said, referring to the Republican lawmaker who represented Virginia in the Senate for 30 years. "That is a hubristic statement – I'm not going to be John Warner – [but] I would really like to model myself after him and serve for a long period of time."

After a long and arduous 2016 campaign, in which he helped deliver his home state for Clinton , Kaine said he wants his focus to be on the "work to do to make Congress the branch it was meant to be."

"I was really honored to be asked by Hillary, and it was a history-making race to be the first woman nominated," he said. "And for her to do well in Virginia and win the popular vote, that is all to her credit. And I was really proud to be part of it. But I think the Catholic in me likes to go to the place where there is the most work to be done."

"I kind of have a sense of vocation... of the work that needs to be done to improve this branch. And I think that's my highest and best use," he continued. "And long as my health, my wife's sufferance and Virginia voters will allow me, those are my three."

LEARN MORE: Trump's rumored cabinet members