Hutchison not quitting Senate until after Republican primary

Posted Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 Comments   (0) Print Share Share Reprints
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By DAVE MONTGOMERY

dmontgomery@star-telegram.com

AUSTIN — Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison will announce today that she will remain in the Senate while she runs against Gov. Rick Perry in the 2010 governor’s race and will not resign her seat until after the March 2 Republican primary, her campaign staff said Friday.

Hutchison, who had been expected to leave the Senate before year’s end, is retooling her timetable to stay in Washington to oppose President Barack Obama’s healthcare plan and environmental legislation, campaign spokesman Joe Pounder said.

Hutchison’s decision could complicate the state’s 2010 political picture. Many politicians have made their plans based on the expectation that Hutchison would resign this year, resulting in a special Senate election that would create openings for other offices as well.

Hutchison, whose six-year term ends Jan. 3, 2013, is not required to resign to run for governor. Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain remained in the Senate while running for the presidency in 2008.

Hutchison will officially announce her plans today at a convention of the Texas Federation of Republican Women. But news of her intentions ricocheted around Texas political circles Friday.

In excerpts of her speech released by her campaign, Hutchison said: "I am more determined than ever to become the 48th governor of the great state of Texas. But at the same time I must put what’s best for my campaign aside and do what is best for our state. That is why I must stay in the Senate while running for the Republican nomination for governor."

Awaiting resignation

Earlier Friday, Perry had told reporters that Hutchison was needed in Washington "to do the job she was elected to do," saying she has been "AWOL" on crucial issues during her campaign for governor.

After learning her plans, Perry spokesman Mark Miner said: "We appreciate that Sen. Hutchison has taken the governor’s advice and finally decided to make a decision to stay in Washington. Hopefully this will allow her to be a full-time senator for the people of Texas."

Candidates and potential candidates have been waiting on Hutchison’s resignation date so they could firm up their own plans before the primary filing period, Dec. 3 to Jan. 4. Those most immediately affected are incumbents deciding whether to seek re-election in 2010 or run for another office.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who has announced for re-election, has been eyeing Hutchison’s Senate seat and was believed to be a leading contender for appointment as an interim replacement. Dewhurst’s plans have a bearing on the future of Attorney General Greg Abbott, who is considering a bid for lieutenant governor, based on the expectation that Dewhurst would fill the Senate post.

State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, said Friday that he is no longer interested in running for attorney general and instead will seek re-election after concluding that Hutchison was probably going to remain in the Senate at least through the March primary.

"We were looking at the attorney general’s race, but that only opened up in the series of dominoes," Branch said. "It just looked to me, given the Washington schedule sliding on Sen. Hutchison, that it was going to come too late if at all."

DAVE MONTGOMERY IS THE STAR-TELEGRAM’S AUSTIN BUREAU CHIEF. 512-476-4294

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