Democrat Bill White to Run for Governor of Texas
Christopher Weber
Correspondent
Posted:
12/4/09
Texas Democrats suddenly find themselves with a viable candidate for governor after Houston Mayor Bill White announced he is scrapping his campaign for U.S. Senate and will make a run for the statehouse.
White, a three-term mayor of Texas' largest city, said Friday he would stress education and the environment when he takes on one of the leading Republicans, incumbent Rick Perry or U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
White told several hundred supporters at a Houston hotel ballroom he'll be "a governor who challenges Texans to lead, not leave, the United States," a swipe at Perry's recent comments that Texas could secede from the Union.
White, a three-term mayor of Texas' largest city, said Friday he would stress education and the environment when he takes on one of the leading Republicans, incumbent Rick Perry or U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
White told several hundred supporters at a Houston hotel ballroom he'll be "a governor who challenges Texans to lead, not leave, the United States," a swipe at Perry's recent comments that Texas could secede from the Union.
He becomes the Democrats' leading candidate, according to the Dallas Morning News. He will be able to transfer his $4 million Senate fund to his gubernatorial campaign.
Houston elected White mayor in 2003 and he was re-elected twice by large margins. Before that he served as a deputy secretary of energy under former President Bill Clinton and as chairman of the Texas Democratic Party.