It has been known for some months now that Sam Brownback will not run for re-election to the Senate in 2010, opting for a shot at the Governor's office (Democrat Kathleen Sebelius is term-limited and cannot run again. There are rumors surrounding her future - she is thought to be a front runner for HHS Secretary under Obama, and, if that falls through, is reportedly considering running for Brownback's Senate seat). Brownback's odds look very favorable at this point.
I learned just today, however, that Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt, the two Republican congressmen from western Kansas, both plan to step down. I've not heard any details, but it seems likely that one or both will be running for Brownback's vacated Senate seat.
With Republican Lynn Jenkins serving her first term in the 2nd district, all of these shifts will leave Dennis Moore, the Democrat who inexplicably owns my own 3rd district, as the senior statesman from Kansas. His popularity defies all reason, but he is popular, as is Governor Sebelius.
With 2010 looking increasingly like it could be a tough year for incumbents, perhaps this will be our opportunity to finally retire Dennis Moore. Or, disastrously, it could be the year that ever-crimson Kansas turns a little more blue.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
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This time last year, New Mexico's two senators were Domenici, Republican and Bingaman, Democrat. We have three Congressmen. They were Pearce,(R), Udall,(D)and Wilson,(R).
ReplyDeleteDue to legitimate health reasons, Sen. Pete Domenici announced he would retire.
Congress members Pearce and Wilson both ran for Pete's senate seat. Pearce won the primary, so Wilson was gone. Tom Udall ran unopposed for the Dem nom for Domenici's senate seat.
Republicans had no strong candidate to replace Pearce, Wilson or Udall for Congress.
In the general election, Udall beat Pearce to become our junior senator. Democrats won all three congressional seats.
Now, our state has only Democrats in congress. Our governor is a Dem, and Dems control both halves of the state legislature.
Kansas politicians should take note. When office-holders give up their office voluntarily to run for a different office, they could lose. Ours did.
But...our State Treasurer and the State Senate President Pro Tem, (both Democrats) are in jail. Richardson may join them. We can only hope.