Ogden not running for reelection (TX State Senator - R)

[sonias]

AAS 9/10/09
Ogden not running for reelection

By Mike Ward | Thursday, September 10, 2009

State Sen. Steve Ogden, a straight-shooting Bryan Republican who is one of the Upper Chamber’s most powerful members as its chief budget-writer, just announced that he will not run for re-election next year.

The decision had been widely rumored for months.

His departure promises an open seat that could attract several candidates, and could be a target for Democrats who would like to gain more Senate seats, although the district is considered GOP territory. State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown, has been mentioned repeatedly as a likely candidate.

Sure would be nice if we could pick up another seat. I don't know Ogden's area enough to speculate. And if Gattis does move up to the Senate Chamber what are our chances of picking up his seat in the House?

Sonia

[PDittie]

1. Ogden is rumored to be considering a challenge

to Chet Edwards.

[sonias]

2. That would be bad

His speech doesn't give any indication that he's leaving politics for good. Only that he's leaving the Texas Senate.

He would definitely have a better chance of unseating Chet Edwards than Arlene the Woolly Mammoth did.

:scared:

Sonia

[PDittie]

3. More on that from EOW

http://eyeonwilliamson.org/?p=4714

[sonias]

4. Thanks - he's obviously going to have a lot of opponents

I'm hopeful that Ogden doesn't get into the fray and that the 5-6 Rs tear each other up in the primary. Chet is not a progressive by any means but at least he's not as nutty as the R congressional contingency for Texas is.

Sonia

[PDittie]

5. Ogden woulld be formidable

but the D-Trip would pour so much money into that race that Chet wouldn't lose

[sonias]

6. Speaking of the nutty Texas R congressional delegation

Several of them can bee seen in this photo during the Obama health care speech. The frail looking man holding up his stinking papers in the back, is 86 year old Ralph Hall. The oldest man in House. And the bald guy with the stinking smirk Louie Gohmert, both representing Crazy Teabag Town, Texas.

The Progressive Electorate blog
More Members of Grand Ol Party Behaving Badly/Gone Wild
Thu Sep 10, 2009

Joe Wilson and Louie Gohmert were not the only Republican members of Congress behaving badly last night during one of the most compelling speeches in history by a POTUS. Plenty of other members of Congress honestly believing this was a Town Hall meeting last night. The elementary and middle school kids would have been suspended had they interrupted the President like this on Tuesday.

In the back you will see 86 year old Ralph Hall (TX-04), a member of Congress since 1980, (I think John Mica of Fla is in front) - and one of our Progressive Electorate targets in 2008. Just imagine the amount of rehearsing that went on getting Hall to remember to hold up the paper.

:crazy:


Sonia

[kalli007]

7. Bryan is my hometown

Definitely conservative, although with a growing younger/minority population is COULD be taken by a Dem with a kickass campaign.

[sonias]

8. Lets hope we find a kick ass Democrat

And that the party puts money and effort to win this seat.

:hi:


Sonia

[sonias]

9. Gattis has announced he's running for Ogden's senate seat

BOR diary 9/14/09
Rep. Dan Gattis is Running for Texas Senate

Williamson County State Representative Dan Gattis will be running for the open State Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Senator Steve Ogden of Bryan, Texas.
(snip)
This announcement will create an opening in HD-20 and along with Democrat Diana Maldonado's re-election bid is sure to make the area just north of Austin a hotbed of electoral activity in 2010.

I wonder if we have a chance for a pick up in HD-20?


Sonia

[PDittie]

10. Kuffner thinks so

Calls both HD 20 and SD 5 "red but potentially competitive" with no incumbent and the right candidate.

http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=21790