From the pages of RollCall
Looks like there won’t be an open seat in the Lone Star state until 2012 at least 2011.
On the other hand, the demographics of Texas may have changed for the better in 2012 as the Hispanic population increases and, during a Presidential year, voter turnout usually spikes up and Democrats last fall have shown they can do that.
Yeah, Cornyn ran during Obama’s victory too, but he was the incumbent. This time we’ll likely get an open seat, because I definitely think Kay Bailey’s on her way to the Governor’s mansion (or not, she might win the primary but who knows what’ll happen in the general)
The Texas Governor’s election is November 2010. If Hutchison wins it (and that seems the most likely scenario), then she’ll resign when she gets sworn in. She’ll then appoint her own replacement to serve until a special election. But, I’m pretty sure Texas law requires a quick election, so that whoever is appointed will not serve until November 2012. So, we’re likely to see a Texas special election for the senate seat sometime in 2011. And, in addition, we will have the regular election for this same seat in November 2012.
I wonder whether this decision will handicap Hutchison in her race against Perry. She may miss lots of campaign time while serving in DC. OTOH, she may simply skip most of her work as senator like Obama and McCain did while running for president.
Would be for Hutchison and Perry to work out a secret deal whereby Perry declines to run for re-election if Hutchison appoints him to the Senate seat. Perry isn’t very popular and would be about the weakest person to run against in a Senate race.
Doubt it happens but it would be awesome if it did.
candidate for Governor. I think Perry will piggyback on Sarah Palin’s endorsement and pull off the upset in the primary.