Van De Putte: If You Run, You Are Running Against Me
By Vince Leibowitz on Jul 21, 2007 in 2010 Texas Elections
In response to a rather speculative Greg Jefferson piece in the San Antonio Express News concerning State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte and her potential political plans and possible future opponents, I’m glad to see Van de Putte has issued a strong statement making her intentions clear:
“Others who continue to discuss running for Senate District 26 should be clear; if they run in that race, they’ll be running against me.”
I have to say I’m quite surprised, given Van de Putte’s national prominence and the fact that she’s chair of the National Conference of State Legislators, that anyone from within the Legislature would consider opposing her.
However, Jefferson seems to think some feel the Madla race laid the groundwork to unseat her and others:
Part of what’s fuelling the speculation is Carlos Uresti’s surprise upset of then-Sen. Frank Madla in last year’s Democratic primary.
Yes, but you put Van de Putte in the same boat as the late Sen. Madla. There is no question about Van de Putte’s Democratic bona fides. Perhaps Van de Putte herself said it best:
“But I don’t think anybody can accuse me of not being Democrat enough in the primary.”
Bingo. Pretty hard when you are co-chairing the Democratic National Convention, and Senate Minority Leader.
Would a move to the Commissioner’s Court be a promotion? I wasn’t aware of any rumors (not from Bexar Co., so that might explain it, lol) about State Reps taking on Van de Putte. Isn’t she expected to make a statewide race one of these years when she feels ready? I’ve always seen her as one of our side’s most able and promising politicians.
Although Bexar County’s commissioner’s court is more desirable than one in a small county because it’s a major metro area, it is really a step down the food chain , though the salary is probably more substantial.
Typically, people use city councils and the commissioner’s court as stepping stones to positions like the one Van de Putte holds. Van de Putte’s current position would certainly be a much better stepping point to higher office as well.
Now, a position like County Judge or Mayor in a major metro area is another story. It can be more of a stepping stone than a senate seat simply because by their very nature they can garner more publicity. Van de Putte, though, is having no difficulties in that department as head of the NCSL (which is a real feather in her cap and the state’s as well) and the DNC convention co-chairwomanship.
In earlier posts when the U.S. Senate race for Cornyn’s seat was very much up in the air, you may recall that I mentioned Van de Putte as one of eight candidates we believed could win.
I don’t know what her aspirations are for higher office, but I do believe (especially with the national exposure) that she has the record and the tools at her disposal to run statewide. And, looking at the Texas Senate today, with the honest exception of Dan Patrick (who has a built-in voter base with his anti-tax rhetoric and his radio show) I believe Van de Putte is the only one with major statewide potential at this point aside from Ellis, and she more than Ellis because of her national name recognition.
Oh, and thanks for commenting!
Well, I wish some of our Democratic senators and long-time state and federal representatives would take the initiative from Rick Noriega and run for higher office.
We aren’t building a bench if nobody ever wants to move up to first-string.
Are some of the state Senators perhaps waiting for a few of the older Dems in Congress to resign and then just slip into their seats? I’m not quite sure on their exact ages, but aren’t there a few South Texas Dems who are getting up there in age? Also, when Eddie Bernice decides to retire, isn’t Royce West a logical choice for her replacement? This is kinda getting away from the original topic, but I also wish more state Senators would take the initiative and run for high office - just think some might be waiting for the Dem Congressionals to call it a day first.
On the topic of Sen. Van de Putte, what would she be the most likely to run for, as far as statewide posts go? Would Lt. Governor be an option in 2010? Everyone discusses White going for Governor and possibly Sharp, Hank Gilbert running again, and then Pat Rose/Eliot Shapleigh(hey, there’s another state sen.)/Radnofsky/Wolens all mulling over AG, but not much has been said (at least that I’ve read) about possibilities for Lt. Governor and Comptroller - maybe Van de Putte would be interested in one of those jobs? 2010 is still a long ways away, but it’s interesting to speculate about the potential slates.
Love the site, Vince!
“But I don’t think anybody can accuse me of not being Democrat enough in the primary.”
The problem with Senator Van de Putte is that she is too willing to compromise, too unwilling to draw a clear line between the Senate Ds and the Lt Gov. That’s apparently what being Democrat enough means in the Texas Senate these days.
Leviathan noted:
Are some of the state Senators perhaps waiting for a few of the older Dems in Congress to resign and then just slip into their seats? I’m not quite sure on their exact ages, but aren’t there a few South Texas Dems who are getting up there in age? Also, when Eddie Bernice decides to retire, isn’t Royce West a logical choice for her replacement?
I reply: Possibly, some Democrats may be waiting for this. I can’t speak specifically to Royce West, though. I suspect there would be a hotly contested Democratic Primary for Eddie Bernice Johnson’s seat, though.
Leviathan also noted:
On the topic of Sen. Van de Putte, what would she be the most likely to run for, as far as statewide posts go? Would Lt. Governor be an option in 2010?
Everyone discusses White going for Governor and possibly Sharp, Hank Gilbert running again, and then Pat Rose/Eliot Shapleigh(hey, there’s another state sen.)/Radnofsky/Wolens all mulling over AG, but not much has been said (at least that I’ve read) about possibilities for Lt. Governor and Comptroller - maybe Van de Putte would be interested in one of those jobs? 2010 is still a long ways away, but it’s interesting to speculate about the potential slates.
I reply:
I think Lt. Governor would be an excellent option for LVdP, regardless of whether Dewhurst runs again for that post or another one. If Dewhurst doesn’t run, Susan Combs is the likely GOP nominee in that department. White and Sharp are of course Gubernatorial possibilities, but 2010 is a long way off and a lot can happen between now and then. I wouldn’t count either out, but I’d also bet it will be a sizeable field in 2010.
I have heard rumblings about Radnofsky for AG, but I also know a lot of people want her to take on a congressional race (Culberson, I think). I’ve not heard about Wolens for AG specifically, but he’ll have been out of office a while by 2010, so if he and Radnofsky faced off in a primary it would probably be a fairly even playing field. That, and it would be record-breaking because I believe it’d be the first time in Texas history to have two Jewish candidates for the same office.
Thanks for the compliments, and keep reading!
David Siegel noted:
“But I don’t think anybody can accuse me of not being Democrat enough in the primary.”
The problem with Senator Van de Putte is that she is too willing to compromise, too unwilling to draw a clear line between the Senate Ds and the Lt Gov. That’s apparently what being Democrat enough means in the Texas Senate these days.
I reply:
This has been the case long before Van de Putte. First, under and prior to Bullock, it was the liberal versus conservative Democrats (though the liberal Democrats did sometimes draw that line) and then onward up through Perry and Dewhurst, there has been, I believe, a concerted effort to try and not make the Senate as acrimonious as the House and to perhaps make some compromises in order to get some concessions in return. However, you will remember that the Democrats drew a big line over Redistricting–all the way to New Mexico.
Vince Leibowitz noted:
“However, you will remember that the Democrats drew a big line over Redistricting–all the way to New Mexico.”
I reply:
True. Also on voter ID. But even then, when Dewhurst tried to bring it to the floor, VDP sputtered ineffectually about that being a dirty trick, while Eliot Shapleigh had the presence of mind to stall with procedural inquiries until Carlos Uresti could show up to save the day.
VDP is not much of a leader. How often did the Democratic Caucus meet last session? The number could be counted on one hand, with fingers left over.