I linked to this Statesman article yesterday in regard to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s expectations for the Senate in the special session. It also contained this bit about Dewhurst’s view of his future:
Dewhurst, in his first interview since before the regular session ended June 1, reiterated earlier statements that he continues to mull whether he might run for the U.S. Senate if incumbent Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison returns to Texas to challenge GOP Gov. Rick Perry.
“Right now, I’m planning on running for re-election as lieutenant governor,” he said, noting that “there’s not an opening in the United States Senate” because Hutchison has not made her intentions official.
“If the Senate job came open, I would probably give it a hard look,” he said. “I think that seat needs to stay in Republican hands.”
Well, some of us – me, for instance – think that the Senate job won’t come open before the 2010 filing deadline. Given that AG Greg Abbott is raring to run for Lite Gov, that may put Dewhurst and all of the dominoes that are lining up behind him in an interesting position. An Abbott-Dewhurst primary could be as nasty and expensive as the Perry-Hutchison one is shaping up to be. They’ll have more than enough money to generate their own “yuck factor” as well. Just something to keep in mind.
I wouldn’t count on an Abbott-Dewhurst primary. Abbott isn’t likely to run for Lt. Gov. if Dewhurst is in the race as an incumbent opponent.
He may square off against Dewhurst if the KBH Senate spot opens up but in that case I’d say it’s more likely that Dewhurst jumps in the Senate race and Abbott jumps in to replace Dewhurst at Lt. Gov.
I could be wrong and I’ll let you know if I hear anything.