By Greg Giroux - CQ Politics
You can add Rep. Joe L. Barton to the long list of Texas officeholders who might run for the Senate seat Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison will resign this fall.
According to the
Fort Worth Star-Telegram a Barton spokesman says the congressman is thinking about running and believes serving the entire state of Texas as their next senator would be an honor.
Theres another compelling reason why Barton and other Texas officeholders are weighing a Senate bid: they wont have to surrender their current offices if they ran for Hutchisons seat.
Thats because Texas has unusual election laws regarding the scheduling of a special election following a senators resignation. In most states an appointed senator serves until a special election is held in November of an even-numbered year. (In New York Democratic Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney would have had to forgo re-election to the House to challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in a primary a scenario she rejected.)
But Texas law calls for speedy special elections and Hutchisons appointed successor would serve only through next May at the latest. (The law does grant Republican Gov. Rick Perry emergency powers to schedule an earlier election).
Barton ran for the Senate in 1993 early in his fifth House term following the resignation of Democrat Lloyd Bentsen to become President Bill Clintons first Treasury Secretary. He finished third in a single-ballot contest that included 24 candidates of all parties including eventual winner Hutchison.
Barton didnt have to surrender his 6th District House seat which he won easily again in 1994 and in seven more re-election campaigns.
