Hutchison Considering Running for Texas Governor in 2010

WASHINGTON — Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison said Tuesday that she is considering running for governor of Texas in 2010 and definitely will not seek re-election to the Senate when her term expires in 2012.

In a hastily called press conference outside the Senate chamber, the 64-year-old lawmaker said that she has made no decision on whether she will serve out the remainder of the six-year term to which she was elected in 2006 or if she would resign in 2009 to run for governor.

"That is an option, but I have made no decision at all," she said.

Hutchison was asked about any advantage of stepping down from the Senate while running for governor.

"I have not made any decision, so there's really no reason to talk about an upside, a down side," she said. "So much has to come together,"

Responding to speculation stemming from an interview with Texas Monthly editor Evan Smith, Hutchison said "maybe I'm too forthcoming in answering questions" about a political future still in flux. Part of the Texas Monthly interview was posted Monday on Smith's blog, "State of Mine," and it sparked an Associated Press story about Hutchison's plans.

Asked about rumors that she has been telling people in Austin that she is running for governor, Hutchison told Smith: "Well, I have been talking to people quietly about what I hope I can do, what I'd like to be able to do. I haven't made a commitment in any way because it's just way too early. ... Would I like to do it? Yes. A lot of things have to happen to make it a reality. You can't plan that far ahead with certainty."

The senator repeated Tuesday that it is politically premature for her to be publicly talking about the 2010 race.

"There's just too much talk about it right now because it's so far away and I think anyone in politics who talks about something three years out is probably not very experienced in politics,'' said Hutchison.

Hutchison won a special election for the Senate seat vacated by Lloyd Bentsen in 1993 when the Democrat was appointed Treasury Secretary by then-President Bill Clinton. She won a full term in 1994 and was re-elected in 2000 and again last year. She considered running against incumbent Gov. Rick Perry, a fellow Republican, in 2006 before deciding against such a divisive race.

On Tuesday, she said whether or not Perry runs again will not be the main factor in her decision on the race.

"I'm not going to say anything more than I have stated in answer to the question 'Am I looking at the option of running for governor?' And the answer is 'Yes,'" Hutchison concluded. "I'm not looking at who is running. I'm not looking at opponents. I'm not looking at timetables. That's it."

Hutchison said she made it clear to Texas voters in her 2006 campaign that she would not seek another term in the Senate.