Wither now the 27th?
So now that Kay Hagan has decided to pursue a jump from the legislature to the U.S. Senate, what will happen with her old state senate seat?
First off, Hagan says she'll serve out her term, so no replacement on the fly. But election 2008 does become interesting.
One the Democratic side of the ledger, the state House districts of current Reps. Maggie Jeffus and Pricey Harrison overlap with Hagan. Jeffus said quite definitively Tuesday that she was happy in the House.
Harrison was a bit more circumspect. But if I were to play dime-story-shrink, she's probably more at home in the House where Speaker Joe Hackney has given her free-ish reign to pursue some environmental legislation and vote the way she wants on most big pieces of legislation. In the Senate, she'd be in danger of becoming the next Ellie Kinnaird, out of step with leadership on many issues and therefore often voting on her lonesome.
One other name mentioned to me yesterday: Margaret Arbuckle of the Guilford Educational Alliance. I haven't spoken to her directly about the race, but she'd certainly fit the profile of someone who might be interested.
On the Republican side, the picture is a bit murkier. Mark McDaniel, who ran against Hagan in 2002 and was at one time in the legislature, certainly could vault to the top of the speculation list. So could Jim Rumley, who has run several times against Jeffus unsuccessfully but might have more luck at an open seat.
Might Rep. John Blust, if he still lived in Hagan's Senate district, take a whack at it? Hagan unseated Blust from a senate seat in 1998.
So now that you know what's on my mind - and who I'm going to be talking to over the next few days - who would be your choices? Who's going to jump in this thing? The comment lines are open.
Comments (3)
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I think, John Blust, should run for Kay Hagan's seat. Yet, I am a Democrat, and he is...uh...one of them. I think he'll be right for the Guilford
Legislative Delegation.
I've known John for many years. I like his style.
As I've said earlier, I may be a Democrat, but
with John, you know what to expect from him.
He makes sure that you get a response from him in a expedient manner. If he decides to run for the Senate, I will support him. I don't care if I don't live in the district he is in, I'll still support him.
Because, to me anyone representing Guilford County, is still representing me.
And, John, if you're reading this. Please consider running for the House Senate. I know you will do
us proud, like when you took over the seat back
when.
Posted on October 31, 2007 12:31 PM
You've got to be kidding me. Mark McDaniel gave money to Jim Black, Earl Jones, Alma Adams and Mike Decker. Give me a break. He has no chance of running as a Republican again in Guilford County. Do your homework, Mark. It only takes a minute.....
Posted on October 31, 2007 10:30 PM
Anonymous: I'm not sure what homework I can do other than look at recent history: McDaniel DID run as a Republican against Hagan...in 2002. It was a pretty loud campaign, which he lost.
Whether he's give to Democrats or not, he has (and could) run as a Republican.
Do your own homework.
Posted on November 1, 2007 7:56 AM