IN-Gov: Bayh Won’t Run

Via the Fix:

Indiana Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh has decided against a run for governor in 2012, robbing Democrats of their top recruit in the Hoosier State.

“After careful consideration, I have concluded that the appropriate decision is not to be a candidate for governor of Indiana in 2012,” Bayh said in a statement released to the Fix. “”The principle reason for my decision is the welfare of my twin sons.”

Bayh’s decision leaves the Democratic field wide open. Reps. Brad Ellsworth and Baron Hill, both of whom lost races this fall, are likely to consider the Bayh-less contest. Others mentioned include Rep. Joe Donnelly, Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel and former state House Speaker John Gregg.

114 thoughts on “IN-Gov: Bayh Won’t Run”

  1. Now he has no excuse for sitting on those millions (if I recall, upward of $10 million) during this past election season.

    What a jerk.

  3. He’s likely to be drawn out of the House (or at least forced into a primary with Visclosky), and he’s moderate enough to win statewide. Wouldn’t be surprised to se him enter the race.

  5. …will Pence run? And if he doesn’t, who will? Marlin Stutzman has a job, Hostettler is probably out after two losses. Almost all Republican Congressmen are freshmen.

    Dan Burton? His Wikipedia page reads like it has been subject of an edit war, so he seems to care for what people think about him- and he wouldn’t need to if he was just going to sit in his safe seat until he retires.

  7. He’s run statewide already and seems to be a likable candidate. With Democrats turning out in the Presidential race, he’d have a good groundswell of support and have room to focus on swing voters at the state level.  

  10. bayh’ll run for senate in 2016, especially if coats retires.  If a dem can win the governor’s mansion this year, then there might be better candidates, otherwise, Bayh is probably the only person who can win and he will still have his 10+ million warchest.

  11. This is somewhat tangential to the main point of this thread, but still Indiana-related, so I hope it’s ok. I’ve started looking at Indiana in Dave’s App, and I had a couple of questions for those who know the state better than I.

    (1) Comparing Wikipedia’s listing of their current residency to the lines in Dave’s App, it looks to me like none of Rokita, Pence and Burton live in their districts. Is that true?

    (2) Assuming that Pence makes the run for higher office that’s expected, who is expected to want his seat? And do any of those potential candidates hold sway in/over the state legislature? (For example, similar to how then-state-senator Thad McCotter had Michigan’s 11th district draw specifically for himself as a member of the 2000 redistricting committee.)

  14. I don’t think he can convert it for personal use….

    But does he ever have to give it back to the donors, as long as it’s in some legal campaign fund?

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