Hot off the presses a few hours ago:
President-elect Barack Obama, who has vowed to adopt an aggressive approach to global warming and the environment, will announce his choices to lead the effort at a news conference on Monday.
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He is also close to naming a secretary of the interior — the federal department that leases public lands for oil and gas drilling. Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado, who once practiced as an environmental lawyer, is the leading contender, sources close to the transition said.
Now that John Salazar is out of contention for Secretary of Agriculture, Ken could provide Obama with another prominent Hispanic in the Cabinet (as Raul Grijalva of AZ seems to have falled off the radar).
Who do you think would get the Senate seat if it opens up? This would be a big prize: Ken was young and had the seat as long as he wanted it, and Mark Udall was just elected, so no Dem would see a realistic opportunity to move to the Senate for 12 years, barring death/incapacitation.
Some of the possible names after the jump
Colorado has a deep Democratic bench, and as Ken was the most prominent Hispanic official in the state, there will be significant pressure on Gov. Bill Ritter to appoint a Hispanic replacement. Here’s a quick look at all the possible replacements, though:
Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien: A former nonprofit executive, O’Brien hadn’t held elective office before 2006, and would be unlikely to get the appointment, though she and Ritter seem quite close.
Treasurer Cary Kenendy: Young, photogenic and having won statewide office in 2006 against a solid Republican, Cary Kenendy is probably the easiest choice Ritter could make. She seems to like her current job though, and has two young children, which may make her unlikely to start the commute to and from DC.
Former Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff: Another young, progressive, popular Democrat who was just term-limited out of the House this year. He is currently applying to fill the now-vacant Secretary of State position, so openly looking for this appointment could smack of opportunism. Romanoff is one of the most effective and popular pols in Colorado, though, and could hold the seat against strong Republicans.
Rep. John Salazar: A non-starter, though people think he’d jump at the chance. His recent ascension to the Appropriations Committee would make becoming a junior Senator unappealling. He’s staying put in his right-leaning district.
State Rep. Alice Madden: A popular woman in the statehouse, Alice is a talented politician, but this too seems like a nonstarter. A purple state like Colorado wouldn’t accept having two Democrats from Boulder as its Senators.
State Sen. Peter Groff: The President of the Senate, and the most prominent black politician in Colorado. A relative moderate for a pol from Denver, he’d be a compelling choice, but would have a tough race in 2010.
Former State Sen. Polly Baca: Was talked up for lots of races in Colorado in the 1990’s, but never went for any of them. Would be the first Hispanic woman in the Senate, and would have strong institutional backing. She’d most likely be a placeholder though, as she’s getting older, and may not want to run a constant campaign for the next 2 years.
State Sen. John Morse: A Democrat from Colorado Springs, and a bright guy, John might be a good compromise choice if Ritter can’t quite decide on anyone. He’s a moderate, gets a ton of stuff done in the House, and doesn’t seem to have many enemies on either side of the aisle.
Thoughts? Additions? Dream Candidates?
Do you think either of them have potential Senate ambitions?
Great post by the way! Thanks for the info.