If Jabba the Hutch runs for Governor, can we pick up her senate seat?

[Hippo_Tron]

Is there any Democrat that is popular enough to do this?

[lala_rawraw]

1. I thought she had

some pending litigation against her, am I wrong? anyone?

[jobycom]

2. I'd like to see Ron Kirk and Sherry Boyles run for something statewide

Probably, though, we'll get another Victor Morales run. I think Morales screwed up our chance to beat KBH six years ago, by swiping the nomination from... I think his name was Bryant? KBH was weak, but Morales didn't know how to expose it.

Ken Bentsen could probably run again, too.

I'd love to see Henry Cisneros pop back up. He'd have a shot at governor or senator, especially if KBH and Perry and maybe Keeton-Strayhorn knock each other around during the primaries.

[Imalittleteapot]

15. Ditto on Kirk and Boyles.

:bounce:

[carpetbagger]

3. Absolutely. Remember all those redistricted people?

The GOP had to gerrymander districts that were already seriously republican to get some of 'em out. Stenholm might not be my cup of tea, but he could at the very least neutralize this relatively safe republican senate seat.

Edit: Stenholm could beat any republican except for Hutchison. Max Sandlin would also be an extremely strong challenger.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. So Stenholm held his own in a district that was already Republican...

until Tom DeLay gerrymandered it and made it ultra-Republican? If that is the case, then it sounds like this guy could be a great contender for Senate.

[PDittie]

5. All will be revealed shortly

...and what happens depends almost entirely on what Kay Bailey decides to do.

KBH has promised a decision on whether she'll run against Goodhair "in the summer". (Chris Bell, the highest profile Democrat so far considering the race for governor, will decide in July; his wife's chemotherapy will have concluded and a prognosis on her health will impact his decision).

If Kay chooses not to go for Austin (doubtful IMHO) and keeps her word to not run again for US Senate, then expect a half-dozen Republicans to start elbowing each other for her seat, such as Lite Gov. David Dewhurst and Henry Bonilla (who's already declared himself a candidate, but only if Kay isn't). And Carole K. R. Strayhorn is jonesing to challenge Rick Perry, but likely won't take both cheerleaders on.

I wish he would run, but Ron Kirk's not going to; he's told others this. I can't find the source for that now but Kirk only half-heartedly ran for DNC chair before stepping back to let Martin Frost do so (before Dean solidified his support). Kirk seems to be comfortable making lots of money as a lobbyist at the moment.

Charlie Stenholm would probably be the most electable Democrat that we could run for the Senate, but he so far indicates little interest in returning to Washington. His website -- stenholm.org -- is a blank page. I'm thinking he'd be Agriculture Secretary in the Bush Administration right now if he wanted to be in DC.

Frost, Max Sandlin, and Jim Turner were all displaced by redistricting (and from my view are weaker candidates than Stenholm). Of course, we might very well wind up with a candidate with scant name recognition and no prior experience being elected to anything, such as Barbara Radnofsky or Juan Garcia. Both are nice folks with wonderful families and are accomplished professionally, but either would be lucky if they got 35% of the vote in a general election.

But only if John Sharp or Tony Sanchez decide to run for anything are we truly doomed.

[crispini]

6. Now, what I want to know is, who's the

"mystery candidate" I keep hearing whispers about, re: the Governor's race? Nobody will come right out and say it, but I keep hearing rumors on the internets that "somebody big" is going to throw their hat in the ring for Gov.... very interesting.

No matter which way you slice it, 06 is going to be fun fun fun!

[lastliberalintexas]

16. Maybe Nolan Ryan?

He's flirted with political runs for a few years now. And he was apparently unhappy with the repubs in the last cycle, since he supported a select few high profile Dems. If he really was going to run, that would explain why KBH hasn't announced yet, since he could likely very easily beat anyone but Willie. Other than some big name getting into the fray, there's no reason for KBH to stay in the Senate, as she'd likely trounce Perry given his polls.

And I am JUST SPECULATING here people. I have absolutely no insider scoop or anything like that- I hadn't even heard the rumors of "somebody big" dropping into the race! :)

[carpetbagger]

17. Nolan Ryan's a reliable republican.

He gave thousands of dollars to the GOP and endorsed George Bush in an open letter last October.

[lastliberalintexas]

18. Yes, but in this mini-threadjacking,

I was only discussing the "mystery candidate", not which Dem could run. What I should have said more clearly is that I think he was unhappy enough with them to run against Perry in the primary. Sorry. :)

[NoPasaran]

19. I've decided the "big name" is

Pete Laney
What? You were expecting Rufus T. Firefly?

[erpowers]

7. Barbara Radnofsky

I know that Barbara Radnofsky is going to run for her seat. I am not sure she can or will win, but she is running for the seat.

[PDittie]

8. No name recognition, no prior elective office

IS capable of funding her own campaign.

Which is at least more than Juan Garcia (who may or may not be running; his site still says "under maintenance") can say.

If our nominee winds up being someone who is virtually unknown to voters and has never been elected to anything previously, then we can forget it.

[acmejack]

12. She can win!

Works for Vinson & Elkins, so I would imagine she is a 'New Dem". Word is that she is very impressive.

[Jack_DeLeon]

9. Tony Sanchez

he already has name recognition from the last governors race.

[PDittie]

10. no chance, thank goodness

One of the worst candidates ever. He'd better think better of running again for Governor, too.

Save your dough, Tone.

[GOPisEvil]

11. Oh, GOD, please...no!

[BrightKnight]

13. I am very grateful for some of the things that he has done.

I would support his candidacy if I thought that he could win.

[Czolgosz]

14. Barbara Radnofsky is a surprisingly strong campaigner.

She comes off as very moderate campaigning, but you can trust her values (she's not a certifiable DINO like Stenholm -- which is not to say that a DINO wouldn't be the best thing to occupy the Senate from Texas in ages). She has a strong civil rights record, she has a tremendous record as an activist fighting to find a cure for AIDS, she has done some great consumer advocacy (but her record is mixed), she's done good work within the school system, and she's got a very persuasive message about reproductive rights and women's rights. This record isn't based on votes in any legislative body -- it's based in large part on actually working on the core issue. She's not making floor speeches about AIDS or voting in favor of AIDS funding -- she's literally bringing the world's scientists together from around the globe to work together on curing AIDS.

What was Perry's prior legislative record when he got elected Gov.?

What was Bush's prior legislative record when he got elected Gov.?

What was Obama's prior legislative record when he got elected Sen.?

Look how they crucified Kerry with his prior legislative record.

A fair case can be made for the notion that no prior legislative record is not such a bad thing.

I want to win, and I'll fight for whomever is going to win. But don't count Barbara out. She's been running for months while everyone else has been sitting on his hands. You got to give her credit for that.