Hutchison Is Considering a 2010 Run For Texas Governor

Texas Republican senator Kay Bailey Hutchison will not seek re-election after her current Senate term and may leave before her term ends in 2012 to run for Texas governor, a spokesman for the senator said.

Hutchison is considering stepping down in two years in order to allow her replacement to gain experience in the Senate before facing election in 2012.

The people of Texas re-elected Hutcihson just last year. The next Texas gubernatorial election is in 2010.

If Hutchison leaves her Senate seat and wins the governorship, a temporary appointee would fill her seat in the Senate. The governor would select the appointee, who would serve from 2010 to 2012. Depending on the timing of that appointee selection, Hutchison could pick her own replacement.