Rick Perry, the longest serving governor in Texas state history, has announced he plans to step down after his current term. Perry said he will not be running for office again in 2014 ... but a presidential run in 2016? That's anyone's guess.
Perry made the announcement during a news conference attended by supporters and reporters in the country's largest Caterpillar dealership, Chron.com reports. He said he intends to finish out his current term before handing over the reigns of the Lone Star State to another candidate.
"I make this announcement with a deep sense of humility and appreciation for the time and the trust the people of this state have given me," Perry said. "And knowing I will truly miss serving in this capacity because it is the greatest job in modern politics."
According to a report from CBS News, Perry has never lost an election in Texas. Beginning in 1984, he successfully ran as a Democrat for the state legislature. In 1998, Perry ran as a Reublican to become lieutenant governor, and in 2000 he took over the governor's office after George W. Bush resigned to become president.
The Huffington Post reports that Perry went on to be re-elected in 2002, 2006 and 2010. He also ran, unsuccessfully, for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, but opted out of the race before the South Carolina primaries took place.
Appearing this week on "Fox News Sunday," Perry revealed that another bid for president was a possibility.
"Well, certainly, that's an option out there, but again, we got a lot of work to do in [Texas] over the course of the next couple of weeks that have my focus substantially more than even 2014 or 2016," he said.
When asked on Monday about a potential presidential run, Perry refused to get specific, saying he would announce his future political plans in due time.
"I will spend the next 18 months working to create more jobs, opportunity and innovation, I will actively lead this great state," he said during today's news conference. "I remain excited about the future and the challenges ahead, but the time has come to pass on the mantle of leadership."
But with Perry vacating the governor's seat for the first time in over a decade, who will take over?
The Seattle Times reports that Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott has made it no secret that he'd like to take up where Perry will leave off. However, Democrats across the state are reportedly urging state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, to go after their party's nomination. Davis' star rose in the media recently after pulling off a 13-hour filibuster to block a controversial anti-abortion bill from passing in the state Senate.
Politico reports that Abbott is considered the likely frontrunner in Texas's next gubernatorial race, having amassed a war chest of approximately $18 million as of 2012, according to the Texas Ethics Commission Filing.
However, a survey by polling firm Public Policy Polling (PPP) indicates that Davis's widely publicized filibuster has made her a superhero of sorts to those on the left. Polls show that a considerable number of Texans have said they hold a favorable opinion of Davis over Abbott, and that her name recognition has also increased dramatically due to her campaigning for Texas womens' reproductive rights.
"Wendy Davis made a strong first impression on Texas voters last week," said Dean Debnom, president of PPP. "But the chances that the state turns blue in 2014 still look pretty slim."
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
