KBH Plans to Leave the Senate in the Fall

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison wants to focus on the March Republican primary (so far she has raised $12.5 mil for the governor's race to Perry's $9.3 mil) and mentioned in a radio interview this morning that she expects to exit the Senate somewhere around October or November. When her resignation is official, Gov. Perry is likely to pick someone to fill her seat until a special election is held. Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams (R), former State Comptroller John Sharp (D), Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R), and Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) are some of those expected to try for Hutchison's soon-to-be vacant seat in the special election (which might be held earlier than May 2010). [Washington Post]