TX-Sen: Kay Bailey Hutchison Won’t Seek Re-election

Big news out of the Lone Star State:

Kay Bailey Hutchison  will not run for re-election to the U.S. Senate….

“I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate for re-election in 2012,” she wrote to supporters. “That should give the people of Texas ample time to consider who my successor will be.”

With a line of potential challengers revved up to take her on from the right, and so-so approvals (especially among the Republican side of the electorate), Hutchison probably didn’t have the stomach for another heated primary after losing the 2010 gubernatorial primary that was once thought to be hers for the taking. Look for the floodgates to open for Republican office seekers now, which will probably now include Dallas mayor Tom Leppert (whose apparent recent decision not to seek another term suggests he may have gotten a tip-off). Other likely entrants include Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, while several less-prominent former or current statewide GOPers are already in the race.

Former comptroller John Sharp, who built up a big war chest in preparation for the special election to replace KBH that never happened, seems likely to be the Dem nominee… but is there any other Dem that any of you have on your wish list for the race?

147 thoughts on “TX-Sen: Kay Bailey Hutchison Won’t Seek Re-election”

  1. He did win a Republican district more then once, even though he lost in 2010, I think he could be viable. He can build crossover appeal.

  2. I swear, I’m going to throw up if he becomes the next Senator from Texas. All we need is some version of Jim DeMint who I’m sure will have the same level of constituent services Cornyn provides (none) and is more interested in a national profile.

    If it has to a Republican, I’m hoping for Dewhurst or Leppert.

  4. Mayor of San Antonio, young (37), hispanic, seemingly fairly popular (though I’ll admit I haven’t heard much about him).

    An added benefit will be increasing Hispanic turnout for the House races on the ballot and for Obama’s reelection (which, while he won’t win Texas, could at least force the GOP to play a little defense).  

  6. Usually US Reps get talked up for open Senate seats, but Texas is so big that representing one-32nd of it isn’t really a stepping stone to statewide office. It would almost have to be someone from a large metro area–maybe Marchant or Culberson?

  8. Reports that IN-2 Rep Donolly will run in whatever district hold South Bend might not be accurate. From the Chicago Tribune:

    “Donnelly said he feels fortunate to serve in Congress, but that he might consider running for governor in 2012 or some other office after seeing how his district is modified.”

    Could also be bluster to leverage a more favorable draw from the legislature.

  9. He’ll be eaten alive in this primary, which will be dominated by the Tea Party crowd. Michael Williams, who already has the backing of Gingrich and DeMint, is probably the front-runner, though David Dewhurst has the ability to self-finance. On the Democratic side, John Sharp, Lloyd Doggett, and Chet Edwards are the best, but the ceiling here for even the best candidate is probably in the low-40s.

    Ironically, my column today, posted just shortly before Hutchison’s announcement, focused upon her woes with the Tea Party and the likelihood of a Williams victory:

    http://polibeast.blogspot.com/…

  10. But I really am hoping for a very divisive primary where teh crazy makes a strong showing — what are Debra Medina’s plans for 2012? She’d be a welcome addition for a far right contest

    I wish I thought John Sharp was the strongest candidate for the job — and hey, he is one of the only Democrats to win statewide in recent history — but nothing I hear about him seems to say that he will be that great of a choice. Still, he seems committed to the race and has cash in the bank, so that may be better than other options.

    I get the argument for Chet Edwards, and he might be the strongest general election candidate, although I worry that he would have trouble exciting the base.

    Too bad Bill White flamed out for Governor and seems to be ruling out running a future statewide race — my sense is that in a better environment than 2010, his Houston area appeal and mainstream business support might be enough to allow him to beat out a hard right Republican nominee. But I don’t think he’ll be making the race.

    My dream candidate would be a young Latina woman, someone with a moderate profile that could sell with the suburban moms in the Houston and DFW areas, while simultaneously exciting base turnout. I would imagine that there are some folks meeting that description in the legislature or holding county office somewhere, but I don’t know enough about Texas politics to suggest who that might be.

  11. read a few names being tossed around, but none besides Bill White, who said he won’t run, stick out. John Sharp has said he’s in this thing no matter who was running on the Republican side a few years ago, and the fact that he was willing to step up to the plate when nobody else seemed willing to do so gives him a lot of credibility in my book. He’s probably much more conservative than I would like–he’s pro-life, for instance–but he wasn’t one of the old-time Democrats that became a Republican, like Phil Gramm or Rick Perry. If nothing else, this makes me think he’s actually happy to be in our party and won’t be a DINO.

    To be honest, I don’t know enough about the state’s politics to say whether he has a good shot. It’d certainly be an uphill battle. But as I’ve said a few times now, from an outsider’s perspective, there’s quite a bit of room for growth, both amongst new voters and ones already registered. The seemingly biggest hurdle–running against a popular incumbent who is probably one of the least offensive Republicans around–no longer exists. The Republicans won’t need to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find a candidate, but the power of incumbency no longer lies in there hands. Besides that, there aren’t that many good pick up opportunities in 2012, if only because there aren’t that many Republican-held seats up.  It’ll be expensive, but if we have the political climate where picking up a seat in Texas is possible, we will have a presidential candidate capable of dumping millions of dollars into the state to help support our candidate as well as himself, something we might not have again in the near future.

    Patty Murray, I hope you are taking this seriously. Like I said, it will be an uphill battle, but that shouldn’t deter us, and it certainly shouldn’t deter you. Imagine how much of a hero you’d be if you helped win this seat for the Democrats after taking the DSCC job when nobody else wanted it.  

  13. I don’t think too many people are sorry to hear that she’s not running for re-election. She’s been a typical DC pol pretty much the entire time she’s held this office. Let’s get someone different, who will actually give it to us straight and get something done about our runaway federal government.

  14. hoping Leppert runs. He seems less dickish and moderate than other Republicans and honestly I think the most action in this race is in the primary so I’ll probably root for him if he’s on the ballot.  

  15. Texas is a difficult state and it’s a huge expensive state.  Meaning not only do you need to spend a huge amount of money but it’s unlikely that you’ll get a large return on your investment.

    Some guy has a chance to buy himself into contention.  Even if they fall short they can at least try to spend money on field work and a get out of the vote operation that can help us in different house races.  Particularly those in hispanic areas that are prone to low turnout.

    Getting someone who can self spend can also force Republicans to spend money in a state they’d rather not spend money like Fiorina did with Democrats in California.

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