Royce West Considering A Run For Attorney General

State Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) is considering a run for Texas Attorney General in 2010, the Dallas Morning News reports.

From the DMN:

State Sen. Royce West said Friday that he’s still considering running for attorney general in 2010, but must ponder several factors before making up his mind.

During a taping of WFAA’s (Channel Inside Texas Politics, West said he would have to discuss a statewide run with his wife and family, since the rigors of that kind of campaign could impact his current way of life.

Earlier this week Houston lawyer Barbara Radnofsky announced her intentions on running for attorney general in 2010.

The race could get more interesting if Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison leaves the Senate early to run for governor because the scramble to replace her could include Attorney General Greg Abbott, which would open his seat.

West appears to be interested in running regardless of what the 2010 landscape looks like, as there is some uncertainty surrounding whether Lt. Governor David Dewhurst will stay put, retire, or try to move up the ladder allowing AG Greg Abbott to be his presumed successor.

West is the third Democrat to publicly express an interest in the post. Houston Attorney Barbara Radnofsky and former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle are the others. Radnofsky announced last month that she would be seeking the post.

State Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas) has indicated an interest in seeking the seat on the Republican side.  He’ll have to contend with former Texas Solicitor General (and darling of the Religious Right) Ted Cruz for the nomination. Congressman Mike McCaul (R-Austin) had previously expressed an interest in exporing a race for AG, but has since backed away from that desire, although several sources maintain that McCaul is looking for a graceful exit from a district he may not be able to hold much longer.

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