WASHINGTON (CNN) – Texas Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison took steps Thursday to run for governor in 2010, a move that could set up a fierce primary battle with the state's current governor.
"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, protection of private property rights, sensible transportation and a government that listens and responds to them," Hutchison said in a paper statement. "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."
Governor Rick Perry said in April he would run for a third term.
Papers to form Hutchison's exploratory committee were filed Thursday in Austin. In her statement, the Texas senior senator stressed she was "not yet a candidate" as there were "friends, community and business leaders" that she wanted to consult with before formally announcing her candidacy. Hutchison, who was re-elected to her Senate seat in 2006, did not indicate whether or not she would resign should she pursue a gubernatorial bid.
From CNN Politics
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Republicans you guys are a laugh. I think its time for Texas to go "blue". Go democrats
Yeah she should use money from recycled GM Hummers, Tanks and SUV's to pay for the "quality" education while she lowers taxes and keeps TX among the worst paid teachers in the nation.
texas needs a governor to enforce border security.
As a Texan,Im tired of Republicans,they dont help me.They work for exxon,halibutan and war machine suppliers.This state just tried to takeover the whole country,or am I the only person that noticed it?
Lets stop voting for career politicians. How's about that idea for change?
Texas needs to set the example, again.
Hutshison has done NOTHING for Texas in the Senate other than be George Bush's lacky. We in Texas distrust her and find her lack of honesty insulting. For her to consider running for Govenor in the State of Texas would be the biggest mistake she makes in her life.
sol said, I don't see why she would want to downgrade, since Governor of Texas is not a particularly powerful office.
Bush used the governorship of Texas as a launching pad to the White House.
I'm just sayin'....
I'm a Texan, & our schools are in absolute shambles & I lay it all in the lap of Rick Perry. If Kay Bailey Hutchison can offer some good ideas to fix our schools, I'll vote for her in a minute. We have corruption in every big city school district in our state with Dallas being an absolute joke having to lay teachers off because of an $84 million dollar mistake in the budget. Our kids are suffering big time. It's time for Perry to go, he's been there long enough. I agree with SAGG, why our state doesn't have term limits is beyond me.
I like her..she is smart
At this point, as a fellow Texan, anyone is better than Rick Perry. I am one who's a liberal democrat, but i sure as hell would vote for Hutchison, if that's all what it takes to remove Perry!
Sol, the conservative base of the GOP would have voted for McCain no matter what. Their main concern was keeping Obama out of the White House; for obvious reasons.
sol December 4th, 2008 1:43 pm ET
"Hutchison in the Governor's Mansion is about a close as liberals as going to get, since Democrats are virtually unelectable at this point."
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What are you talking about?? Hutchinson is a Republican and it is the Republicans having a hard time getting elected these days. Elizabeth Dole gets knocked out in NC, Chambliss has to go to a run-off race in GA and Franken, of all people, has kept the race close in MN. Even Texas may be turning a light shade of purple these days...
Great, let the republicans eating republicans feast continue.
I hope Bill White decided to run.
I agree with many of the bloggers here. Hutch isn't much of an improvement over Perry except for being a woman. This state needs a good moderate Democrat for governor if anything. Most Texans resist change, but it would be so good for us. We desperately need fresh blood, modern ideas, new perspectives. Texans value their independence, but often to their detriment. When we cloister ourselves from other states and the world, cling to religion, put down the values and cultures of those not like us, then we only become more narrow-minded, make enemies, live in hypocrisy, are more isolated, and there we're less happy. Just look what happened with Bush and the efforts of his administration to spread that sort of thinking to the national and then world level. Those ideas just don't work.
Term limits for governors would be a good idea too.
One "Bush" BOZO for another "Bush" BOZO. Some choice. My sympathies to the people of the Great State of Texas.
BTW Michael in Houston. You have an excellent way of describing Palin.
Maybe George W. Bush could run. He's going to be in Dallas. He's just what Texas needs (deserves,)
Oh trust me, this is happening all over the U.S. Illinois has one of the worst Governors there is and we will get rid of him in 2010. Hopefully he will be in jail before then, just like the former Gov. of IL.
Kathy in Indiana
What a well thought out comment. I'm glad you took the time to contribute today.
Give Texas back to Mexico, how rich!!!
Perhaps after we do that, we can give Indiana back to the Native American Indians!!!!!
David Letterman, Larry Bird....hmm....anything else of significance EVER come out of Indiana?
Having a little state envy? That's okay, Texas forgives you. That's just the way we do things down around these parts, missy.
From the comments, I would have to think that the next governor of Texas may just be a Democrat....
I hope she wins. Rick Perry looks like a store-front mannequin and acts like one, too. Kay Bailey Hutchinson has common sense and is more along the lines of Ann Richards. The only difference is that they belonged to different parties. Big deal. So what? Look, if an elected official makes common sense, then that's all you need. I'll bet dollars to fritters that Kay Bailey Hutchinson is way closer to Ann Richards than she ever could be to Rick Perry. Deal with that, hamhocks!
God!!! How I miss Molly Ivins.
She truly is the lesser of two evils.
I am a Texan and I would not vote for either one of them. Perry hasn't done a thing for Texas but set up deals for himself and crony friends. Kay Bailey Hutchinson isn't for everyday Texans but only for business and corporations as a Republican. I emailed her many times about illegals working and she was with Bush for allowing foreign countries to own more than ten percent of any US airlines. Then ten percent is what the law says now. Hutchinson emailed back that we were in a global market. I emailed to her it has to do with our security. Texas needs a complete set of new people.
Kay Bailey Hutchinson could be the next Governor provided the Democrats can't field a worthy candidate. It's time for Rick Perry to go.