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
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
i still say the republicans need to get rid of all their people and start over, surly they have some people with brains.
Perry is indeed being groomed, to run for president himself ! and until then, he will do anything he has to , to stay in office, keep anyone but a republican from being govenor..SAD..would love to see a realloy good democrat run..Perry has not done enough in the time he has already been in there, except to try to turn all our highways into toll roads ! our schools and many other things, helping low income people, children to get the proper medical care etcc they need , he still hasnt helped much with..Its time for Perry to GO
Texas mom
Southern states have the highest poverty, abortion, unemployment, and crime rates. The also rank among the lowest in graduation rates and SAT scores, yet they are the most conservative and religious. Whatever your elected officials are doing is not working number don't lie. Texas is among the worst of them all which speaks volumes. Citizens of the southern states have voted themselves into oblivion. I would say I feel sorry for you but you probably wouldn't know any better.
Perry. Hutchinson. Come on Texas, can't we do better than either of these know-nothing, blow-hards. I've never heard two people say less in 1000 words – other than, perhaps Sara Palin.
Granted the Texas governor does not have the authority to do much more than serve tea and sympathy, but we need somebody to inspire us to at least come to their tea parties.
I support Kay. Dems are lucky McCain didn't pick her as his running mate. That might just have done it.
This is the first step to take back our party. Many more will follow. The world is crashing in around us and you left wing kooks are still mesmerized with Gov. Palin. What a bunch of losers!
Perry is a right-wing, partisan screwball. If Hutchinson can look like a progressive conservative, she'll win over a lot of Democrats.
Advice to Kay Bailey: It's the vision thing. Be positive. People are sick of Republicans.
I voted for Obama, but I have to admit that John McCain is a real bada$$. Too bad he didn't pick a smart conservative woman to be his running mate. Someone like Kay.
"Not yet a candidate . . . " HA! She will run. She's already been sending her people to meetings about local – not federal – issues. She's been trying to build up some support locally for a while now.
Kinky in 2010!!
She should have been McCain's VP pick.
In the picture, she is doing karaoke. Can anyone guess what song she's singing?
I hope she runs... Perry is an idiot and part of the Republican Culture of Corruption. Time to him to get booted to the curb!
Why didn't McCain pick Hutchinson if he wanted to choose a woman?
KBH sounds an awful lot like KGB. Didn't Grampy McCain't talk a lot about the KGB during the campaign? Oh that's right! It was supposed to be a joke (kinda like the stupid bear joke, DNA and pork barrel spending). Just another joke like the rest of the Republican party perhaps? Consider yourself warned!
Please Kay, don't do it! We Repubs cannot afford for you to give up your seat to possibly be filled my a Dem. Somebody up there has to keep a rein on all those crazy Dems up there!! Say it ain't so!!!!
I can easily imagine why Hutchinson would want to move to the state house. Being a Republican in the Senate for the next few years is not likely to be any fun. And if the economy turns around and the Democrats find an Hispanic candidate to run against her in 2012, her re-election to the Senate is far from certain.
But this is still a major "in your face" move by one Republican against another. There must be more to the story. I hope that CNN will do some in-depth investigative journalism here and find out what is going on.
Perry isn't going to run again. He's just saying he is so he doesn't end up a lame-duck Governor this session. It's his desperate attempt to stay relevant.
Thank God!!! Anyone would be better than Gov. Crooked Rick Perry. If only Strayhorn hadn't run the last go around we might have Kinky Friedman serving as governor of the Great State of Texas! Remember: He ain't Kinky, he's my Governor! Perry, while he has laid claim to the economic success in the state while others are experiencing more of a downturn, he can't claim to have created that business climate. I'm just disgusted at his attempts to ram the Trans-Texas Corridor down our throats and giving it all away to foreign companies. Plus, the guy is living in a rental property costing taxpayers tens of thousands per month while the Governor's Mansion is being remodeled. Guess we're gonna pay rent a little longer since the arsonist threw a match to Perry's temporary home. I like Sen. Hutchison, even though I tend to vote Dem, she'd be better than Perry who only rode in on then-Gov. Bush's coattails. Maybe Bush and Perry can both take up residence elsewhere come Jan. 20th!
Oh now here's a woman of great integrity. When Clinton was caught lying about Monica, Hutchinson claimed it was perjury and warranted a full investigation. When Scooty Libby was caught lying in the Plame affair, Hutchinson decried his prosecution for a "technicality" - a little lie.
Translation: when it's about a Democrat, bring out all the guns you can; when it's about a Republican, yawn, wave of the hand, "nothing to see here, people, keep moving..."
Hutchinson = hypocrite.
Man!!! I haven't seen this much competition since Teddy Roosevelt went at it with William Howard Taft...but they both lost to Woodrow Wilson, LOL!!
Cool stuff!!
Tyler: The governor of Texas ISN'T a powerful office. It's a figurehead office, with the real power resting in the Lt, Givernor's hands. The only REAL power the Gov. has in Texas is the Line Item Veto. Go do some studying, and you'll see I'm right.
That being said, KBH is just another Washington Republicrat. It's time to look for new answers from people outside the Beltway.
Great – let the Republicans duke it out.
My question is, when does her senate term end? Would this mean an open seat?
The reason KBH wasn't picked as John McCain's running mate is because the Democratic machine would have tied her to Bush so fast it would have made your head spin. She would not have helped him...
As a texan i'd have to know her stance on the trans-texas corridor, if she's against it, then i'd be for her, if not, then neither would have my vote.