Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison Jumps Into Texas Governor’s Race
Posted by: Flap in Kay Bailey Hutchison, Rick Perry
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, Senator John McCain and Texas Governor Rick Perry from March 2008
Her statement:
Today, I am filing an exploratory committee so I can begin the process of organizing a campaign for Governor of Texas. I am not yet a candidate, but Texas law requires this first, important step before an announcement can be made.
I am transferring $1 million from my Federal account to this new state exploratory committee and will take further steps as they become appropriate.
Right now, there are a lot of Texans – friends, community and business leaders, Republicans, Democrats, Independents and people who’ve never been in politics – that I want to talk to before becoming a formal candidate.
While Texas is faring somewhat better economically than many other states, a positive future is not guaranteed. It will take leaders who look ahead to meet the economic and budgetary challenges that are coming.
Texans deserve a Governor who, in the context of sound budgetary policies and low taxes, works for quality schools and universities, access to health care for our families, communities safe from crime and drugs, and a government that listens and responds to them.
There’s too much bitterness, too much anger, too little trust, too little consensus and too much infighting. And the tone comes from the top. Texans are looking for leadership and results.
I am humbled by the number of hard working Texans, including my friend Dick Armey, who have asked me to run for Governor in our state that I love so dearly. And I am honored to serve Texas in the United State Senate, protecting our state’s interests and standing for our values and vision. Texans understand I put Texas first and I will continue to do so while I explore and prepare for a race for Governor of Texas.
Hutchison is IN.
The only question is whether incumbent GOP Governor Rick Perry is OUT?
Technorati Tags: Kay Bailey Hutchison, Rick Perry
Entries (RSS)
December 4th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Suprising. I doubt if the Senator would run unless Perry is out. Perhaps Perry has Presidential aspirations in 2012. He has done a pretty goof job as Governor of Texas. Unlike most states, Texas’ economy is growing on the plus side.
December 5th, 2008 at 12:35 am
What happens if Hutchison quits the Senate, and Rick Perry nominates himself as the fill-in Senator, and then runs as a Senatorial candidate in the special election which would follow? Is this possible? Legally speaking, I mean. I ask because I read somewhere that there’s a chance this could happen in Kansas too, where Brownback is retiring from the Senate to run for Gov., and Kathleen Sebelius wants to switch with him and run for his Senate seat.
December 5th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Governors appointing themselves to the Senate have to be careful in not alienating the voting public. Polling will be important in both instances.
A short-term gig in DC with a concomitant loss in a special election is not really a desirable job.
December 6th, 2008 at 10:05 am
As retired educators, my husband and I will both campaign against Kay Bailey Hutchison for Texas Governor. We will do everything we can to promote Texas Teachers against Kay Bailey Hutchison.
During her terms as Senator when we were teachers, we wrote numerous letters asking her to help get rid of the Social Security windfall and do something to help us and others in the same boat. Most people are aware that because we were teachers, they slice right off the top from Social Security we have worked for and paid into the system.
She always replied with her little “canned” letters.
She had no time for teachers.
Now teachers must have no time for her.
December 6th, 2008 at 10:53 am
California teachers have their own retirement system run by the State of California.
What is the system in Texas?