Media SWAG on who may run for Kyl’s Senate seat

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The media villagers didn't waste any time speculating about who may run for Sen. Jon Kyl's Senate seat in 2012. Here is their early SWAG list today.

The Arizona Republic

Republicans

Rep. Jeff Flake

Rep. Trent Franks

Former Rep. John Shadegg

Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth

Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods

Former Arizona Treasurer Dean Martin

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu

Mesa Mayor Scott Smith

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters

Maricopa County Supervisor Andy Kunasek

Democrats

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

Rep. Ed Pastor

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano

Former Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Jim Pederson

Former Arizona Attorney General nominee Felecia Rotellini

U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke

Former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon

Arizona Board of Regents member Fred Duval

Arizona Daily Star

Republicans

Rep. Jeff Flake

Rep. Ben Quayle

Former Rep. John Shadegg

Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth

Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods

Former Arizona Treasurer Dean Martin

Senate President Russell Pearce

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu

Democrats

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

Rep. Ed Pastor

Former Rep. Harry Mitchell

Former Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano

Former Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Jim Pederson

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If the media villagers want to speculate, let's speculate. What about teabagger darlings Jesse Kelly and Ruth McClung? What about millionaire shooting range owner and gubernatorial candidate Buzz Mills? What about candidate for every office, former Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker? What about all those former state legislators who ran for Rep. John Shadegg's seat?

The Arizona Daily Star reports that Rep. Ed Pastor says he is considering a bid. Ed, you will be 69 in 2012. You represent a congressional district that has the lowest voter turnout of any congressional district in the nation [2008]. Just keep your seat. The Arizona Daily Star also reports that "he who must be mentioned" in speculation about any elected office, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, is seriously considering a bid. Isn't that what he always says?

Who knows, maybe the collection of Democrats who ran for senate in 2010 will run again: Democratic senate nominee Rodney Glassman, and challengers Randy Parraz, John Dougherty and Cathy Eden. There are also perennial mentions Nan Stockholm Walden and Brig. Gen. Ret. John Adams.

Speculation is easy. Nobody really knows who is running until they file their paperwork.

UPDATE: The East Valley Tribune and the Arizona Guardian (subscription required) report that John Shadegg says he is not running, but disgraced former Arizona Governor J. Fife Symington III is considering running:

Symington served nearly seven years as governor in the 1990s until he was forced to resign after a financial fraud conviction stemming from his career as a failed real estate developer. His conviction was overturned on appeal, and he was pardoned by President Bill Clinton before he could be retried.

"I won in the end, so the record's clean, and I certainly had a fine record as governor," he told The Associated Press Friday.

Symington's potential interest in the seat was first reported by Politico.

Also Friday, former U.S. Rep. John Shadegg issued a statement saying he would not be running for Kyl's seat. Shadegg retired from Congress last month after serving eight terms in office. He said he had received many calls and e-mails encouraging him to run but that he was sticking to his decision to retire from politics.

"While it would be a great honor and privilege to succeed my friend Jon Kyl in the U.S. Senate, as I did in the House, I made a decision a year ago to pursue other opportunities," said Shadegg, also a Republican. "Now is not the right time, either for me or my family, to pursue the opportunity created by Senator Kyl's decision."

The Fifester told Politico that former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner may be interested in running. Fife eyes Senate, floats NFL star Kurt Warner – POLITICO.com:

The former governor also suggested another eye-catching candidate for the seat, saying he heard a “rumor that Kurt Warner could be a possibility.”

“He’s a strong conservative and he’s extremely well liked and certainly would have the ability to attract the financial support,” Symington said of the former Arizona Cardinals quarterback.

UPDATE: The Sunday Arizona Republic updates its speculative list of contenders Kyl's farewell could set off political wave. Freshman U.S. Rep. Ben Quayle, R-Ariz., says he has no plans to run for Kyl's seat. They add Maricopa County Supervisor Andy Kunasek, and Rep. Ed Pastor to their list. Still no media speculation about former Attorney General Terry Goddard… curious.