Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
List of possible Hutchison successors takes shape
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
List of possible Hutchison successors takes shape
By HENRY C. JACKSON,Associated Press -
Friday, January 14
Send
IM Story
Print
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's retirement announcement nearly two years before Texas voters will choose her successor gives aspiring candidates plenty of time to prepare.
The list of Republicans and Democrats who might be interested was already starting to take shape Thursday after Hutchison announced in a letter to supporters that she would not seek reelection when her term ends in 2012.
The state's first female senator has occupied her seat for nearly two decades and, observers said, many Texas politicians have been biding their time for a chance to replace her.
"This news will cause a lot of political dominoes to fall in Texas," said Mark McKinnon, a former George W. Bush political adviser and a longtime observer of Texas politics. "A lot of pols have been waiting a long time to move up."
The list is longer on the Republican side, led by popular Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Personally wealthy from a career in the energy industry, Dewhurst could self-fund what would be a costly statewide run, a huge advantage in a vast state.
He was deferential on Thursday, saying "today is Kay Bailey Hutchison's day." Still, he was not above stoking speculation.
"I fully intend to explore running for the United States Senate, and should I run, I will run with the intention of winning and continuing to serve the people of Texas," he said.
Other potential candidates also gingerly signaled their intention to explore the race. Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones offered warm praise for Hutchison before saying that, she, too, would consider the race. Other Republicans who are expected to run or consider a run are Jones' colleague on the Railroad Commission Michael Williams, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, and former Secretary of State Roger Williams.
The Democratic field is less clear, though national Democrats believe they can make the race competitive.
Former Houston Mayor Bill White, who like Hutchison lost a gubernatorial bid to Texas Gov. Rick Perry in 2010, has said he will not run for Senate, although Democrats may try to persuade him. Other potential candidates include former congressman and current U.S. Trade Rep. Ron Kirk and John Sharp, the state's former comptroller.
In becoming the first sitting senator to announce she won't run in 2012, Hutchison said she wanted to give Texas voters "ample time to consider who my successor will be." Whoever that is, they will be following a woman whose popularity has remained strong despite a moderate streak in a deeply conservative state and her share of setbacks in more than 30 topsy-turvy years in Texas politics.
Growing up in La Marque, Texas, Hutchison had hoped for a legal career, but after being turned down by large law firms because of her gender, she shifted first to journalism, then to banking before building a successful career in politics. After serving two terms as a state representative, Hutchison was appointed to the National Transportation Safety Board in 1976. She lost a race for the U.S. House in 1982, then left politics to work in the banking industry.
Hutchison returned to the political scene in 1990 and never looked back. After winning election as state treasurer, she parlayed her popularity into a special election victory to replace then-Sen. Lloyd Bentsen in 1993, when Bentsen left to become President Bill Clinton's treasury secretary. Hutchison was then elected to a full term in 1994 and comfortably won reelection in 2000 and 2006.
Hutchison's career took a final twist in 2010, when, after several times being mentioned as a potential candidate for governor, she decided to challenge Perry in the GOP primary. She was resoundingly defeated and thought about retiring soon afterward. Though it was difficult for her family, Hutchison said she stayed because she could not leave Texas at such a critical time.
"I intended to leave this office long before now, but I was persuaded to continue in order to avoid disadvantage to our state," Hutchison said. "The last two years have been particularly difficult, especially for my family, but I felt it would be wrong to leave the Senate during such a critical period."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Tunisian president toppled after 23 years in power AFP - Saturday, January 15
World sees chance for democracy in Tunisia AFP - Saturday, January 15
UK-World Summary Reuters - 47 minutes ago
Fiat Mirafiori staff 'approve' deal with conditions AFP - 1 hour 32 minutes ago
Rival urges force to oust Ivory Coast's Gbagbo AFP - Saturday, January 15
News Search
Top Stories
Fiat Mirafiori staff 'approve' deal with conditions
BP, Rosneft reach 'historic' Artic deal
Delta mulls massive aircraft purchase
JPMorgan Chase profits soar in 2010
US consumer prices up 0.5% in December
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
N.Zealand flood rescuers get Aussie snake catcher
Breastfeeding study raises doubts over guidelines
JPMorgan Chase profits soar in 2010
Delta mulls massive aircraft purchase
Phelps returns to the swimming pool in Texas
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Saturday, 15 January 2011 Judicial enquiry into Berlusconi, teenage girl: press
Taiwan develops face-recognising vending machine
Delta mulls massive aircraft purchase
Mobile app takes on India's cheating tuk-tuk drivers
JPMorgan Chase profits soar in 2010
Ivory Coast strife draws in West Africa central bank
|
Dozens of pilgrims killed in India stampede: report
|
Lebanon's Hariri says no alternative to dialogue
|
Quake in Chile set off tremors in California: U.S. study
|
China and Russia won't join nuclear tour: Iran
|
Haiti slum clash stokes unrest fears, one killed
|
Spelling challenged Florida man claims emotional distress and sues WikiLeaks, Julian Assange alleging treason
GM adds $2 billion in shares to pension plan
Hasbro Holiday Sales Decline
Intel's market sway wanes as it bucks S&P gains
|
UC Berkeley begins laying off 150 workers
US bank closing UN diplomatic accounts
Sprint eyes machine-to-machine benefits in 2 years
|
Nude housekeeper acquitted in murder of client
GOP poised to vote for new chairman
OWN acquires docufilm about Chaz Bono's reassignment surgery
Analysis: Ambition, fear means business tongue-tied on China
|
American cheap chic discount chain enters Canada
Wife of Massachusetts Rep. Tierney Sentenced To Prison
Intel settles with WiLAN over patent litigation
|
Doctors to amputate actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's leg
|
CBS concerned about Charlie Sheen but show goes on
|
Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg teaming on Dad film
|
Gwen Stefani becomes new face of L'Oreal Paris
|
James Gandolfini is rock solid in Down the Shore
|
Big ratings for Wipeout, Big Bang Theory
|
Publicist sues Golden Globes organizers
|
Green Hornet off to good start at midnight showings
|
Paris Hilton promises tears, fights in new series
|
Launch of Murdoch's The Daily delayed: report
US consumer prices up 0.5% in December
Wikipedia founder sees biggest impact yet to come
Australia and S.Korea draw in Asian Cup match
Analysis: Investors look to cloud for tech stock picks
U.S. agency sees problems in Falcone's wireless plan
Jude Law returns to London stage in "Anna Christie"
Lebanon's Hariri vows to cooperate on ending crisis
Taliban 'to allow girls education': minister
Fiat Mirafiori staff 'approve' deal with conditions
Tunisia PM pledges calm, coalition talks as president flees
|
Hundreds protest over high prices in south Jordan
BP, Rosneft reach 'historic' Artic deal
US-TECH Summary
Sprint eyes machine-to-machine benefits in 2 years
Sadr's followers demand Biden stay away from Iraq
Judicial enquiry into Berlusconi, teenage girl: press
Roadside bomb kills 7 in southern Afghanistan
Intel settles with WiLAN over patent litigation
100 pilgrims killed in India stampede
|
Analysis: Ambition, fear means business tongue-tied on China
107 trillion emails sent last year: Pingdom
Globes face lawsuit on eve of Hollywood show
Rival urges force to oust I. Coast's Gbagbo
More than 100 dead in Indian pilgrimage stampede
Weeks of rains leave 47 dead in Philippines
Goldman's Blankfein pitches for Groupon's IPO: report
|
Taylor defiant as N. Zealand melt down
Broadcast critics click on Social Network
|
Steven Tyler talks American Idol
|
Pair arrested in false claim against actor Gary Busey
|
Showtime planning reality TV series on gigolos
|
San Francisco Giants to star in reality TV show
|
Amnesty urges torture charges on Indonesia soldiers
China urges Taiwan to release fishermen: report
YouTube mobile video viewing tops 200 mln a day
Volunteer army cleans up, Australian floods spread
Japan foreign minister arrives in S. Korea
Doctors amputate actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's leg
Kama Sutra virus dupes with sexy promise
Clinton presses China on rights before visit
Hollywood production in Canada sees modest climb back
Aussie NBA star Bogut to help flood victims
NY judge to sentence geriatric gangster, 93
List of possible Hutchison successors takes shape
Youngest Ariz. shooting victim laid to rest
Globes face lawsuit on eve of Hollywood show
The abrupt dawning of the age of Ophiucus
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Steven Tyler talks "American Idol"
Pair arrested in false claim against actor Gary Busey
China to station troops in N. Korea: report
Doctors amputate actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's leg
Showtime planning reality TV series on gigolos
San Francisco Giants to star in reality TV show
North Korea to set up economic development bureau
Gwen Stefani becomes new face of L'Oreal Paris
US to be candid on economy during Hu trip
Big ratings for "Wipeout," "Big Bang Theory"
Indian billionaire barred from investing in stock market
US, EU firms complain China not doing enough on IPR
Hyundai Motor signs initial deal to buy builder
Myanmar planning large-scale privatisation: local media
Pakistani stocks end on 31 mth high; rupee firms
Strong yen forces Daihatsu out of Europe
China raises banks' reserve requirement ratio
Google gains ground in US search market
IBM may boost tech confidence, services in focus
Kennedy library puts archives online
Over half of US online adults use Wikipedia: survey
Mobile doubts weigh on chipmakers Intel, AMD
Iran opens atom sites to foreign envoys
US Marine kills Afghan policeman after dispute
Zsa Zsa Gabor has leg amputated to save life
U.S. marine kills Afghan policeman after dispute
|
Many still missing in Brazil floods
|
Iraqi soldiers kill two U.S. soldiers in Mosul
|
EU freezes Ivory Coast port and bank assets
|
Gunmen kill 17 in new Pakistan violence in Karachi
|
IAEA envoys tour Iran nuclear site: report
|
Politics makes convicting Pakistani assassin difficult
|
Deadly day for US troops in Iraq, three killed
S. Korea wants UN to act on N. Korea uranium
Anglican bishops ordained as Catholic priests in London
|
Sudanese youths call for peaceful government overthrow
|
Federal judge remembered as a fair jurist
S. Korean freighter hijacked off Somalia
Banned lean-enhancing drugs in Taiwan detected in US beef
Ronald Reagan's son: Alzheimer's seen during presidency
Unctad chief urges safety net, Downturn could spread, Supachai warns
Obama administration ends high-tech border fence
Gunmen kill 17 in new Pakistan violence in Karachi
Official: Ariz. shooter posed in G-string with gun
Philippines to expel 70 S. Korean children
Panel says women should be allowed in combat units
At least 100 pilgrims killed in south India stampede
GOP ousts Steele, picks Priebus to head party
Thai red shirts and traders strike a deal on protest schedule
Thai environment report paints bleak picture
Doctors amputate actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's leg
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights