White expected to run for Hutchison's Senate seat

Houston Chronicle:

Mayor Bill White has decided to seek the U.S. Senate seat held by Kay Bailey Hutchison, should the two-term Republican challenge the sitting governor next year, the Houston Chronicle has learned.

Ending months of speculation about his political future, White plans to announce the plans at an event next week, according to two knowledgeable sources, who would only speak on condition of anonymity.

White, a third-term mayor and former state Democratic Party chair, has been discussed for years as a possible gubernatorial candidate, in part because of his appeal as a moderate, popular leader from the state's most-populous city.

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The mayor joins another moderate Democrat seeking the seat, former Texas Comptroller John Sharp, who announced earlier this week that he plans to get into the race.

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To date, three prospective Republicans candidates have filed for the Senate seat in Texas: Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones, insurance sales manager Scott Nichol, state Sen. Florence Shapiro of Plano.

I think Elizabeth Ames Jones would be an attractive candidate for the Republicans. She is a good speaker. She is excellent on energy, and she has already won a statewide race for the Railroad Commission. White would probably be the Democrats' strongest candidate.

It is unlikely that Hutchison will change her mind about challenging Perry at this point and the polling mentioned in a post below suggest she would be the favorite in that race right now. That being the case White seems to be in the race.