Hutchison will not seek re-election

The Dallas Morning News reports that Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas Republican, will not seek re-election in 2012.  This sets Texas up for a primary the likes of which the state has not seen for a while.  Several current and former statewide Republican officeholders, including Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams, state Attorney General Greg Abbott, and former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz have all shown interest in the seat in the past or already have campaign committees ready to roll.  All would be considered serious contenders in the Senate derby.  Democrat Bill White, who was handily defeated in the governor’s race in November, is the likeliest contender on that side of the aisle.

Update: Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones is also a declared GOP candidate for Hutchison’s Senate seat.  By the way, the Texas Railroad Commission has nothing at all to do with railroads.  It’s the state’s energy commission.

Update: Jim Geraghty: “Every two years since George W. Bush beat Ann Richards in 1994, we have heard about the imminent comeback of Texas Democrats; they’re always coming back, but never seem to arrive.”  Yup.  Just this past year, Bill White was billed as the Texas Dems’ “great White hope.”  We all know how that turned out.