Governors Who Should Have Ran For Senate.

[CountyTy90]

John Connally (D/R) when he was a Dem, considered challenging Tower for the United States Senate in 1966, but LBJ & Co., blocked that from happening and demanded that Connally seek reelection to a 3rd term as governor.

I wish Ann Richards was still here and a national politician. May she rest in peace.

[CountyTy90]

Granholm was very disliked and unpopular despite winning 3 consecutive statewide elections as Michigan State AG in 1998 and Governor in 2002 and 2006. The economy tanked on her watch and she wasn't going to win statewide office ever again if she tried to go for the United States Senate down the road.

Yeah, I didn't take into account about Michigan's economy at the time she left.

She must be more popular nationally than statewide?

I'm not sure about how she's perceived nationally, but I can guarantee that she couldn't be elected as dog catcher now.

It's taking time, but I think that people are slowly starting to realize that--while they can think what they want about her--there isn't a whole lot she could've done to prevent the economic catastrophe in Michigan late last decade.

Well I thought she had/has a show on like MSNBC? I don't watch TV much anymore, but I thought I saw her with her own show?

And I think that as time goes on not all the blame will be placed on her... just about every state had their issues from 2008-2012... or present, depending how you look at it and where.

[TX Conservative Dem]

Bill Owens (R) of Colorado could have been a possible contender for the United States Senate, but personal issues prevented that from happening.

[Suburbia]

O'Malley really should of ran for Senate, he's young enough to have served a term, gotten some nationwide prominence, and become the next president after Clinton (I assume).

I don't see O'Malley running for Senate in '16 if Mikulski retires, I see him thinking he's "presidential enough to run". If he doesn't do well in 2016 and Clinton wins, I see him running in 2024 or 2028 for president.

[Mister Mets]

O'Malley really should of ran for Senate, he's young enough to have served a term, gotten some nationwide prominence, and become the next president after Clinton (I assume).

I don't see O'Malley running for Senate in '16 if Mikulski retires, I see him thinking he's "presidential enough to run". If he doesn't do well in 2016 and Clinton wins, I see him running in 2024 or 2028 for president.

Except he'd be stronger as a Governor turned Senator than as a former Governor.

[NHLiberal]

O'Malley really should of ran for Senate, he's young enough to have served a term, gotten some nationwide prominence, and become the next president after Clinton (I assume).

I don't see O'Malley running for Senate in '16 if Mikulski retires, I see him thinking he's "presidential enough to run". If he doesn't do well in 2016 and Clinton wins, I see him running in 2024 or 2028 for president.

Except he'd be stronger as a Governor turned Senator than as a former Governor.

Except he'd be stronger as a Governor turned President than a Governor turned Senator, and he thinks that's a realistic path (even if most people don't).

[badgate]

I think for an incumbent Governor to run for Senate, they need to make the race about their record as Governor, and about taking that record to Washington to give the state stronger representation in the capital. Voters need to believe the Governor-for-Senate candidate isn't running for the national party and won't be beholden to it when in office. That's why Tommy Thompson lost.

[Suburbia]

Michigan: Former Gov. John Engler (R) (1991-2003): Should have ran in 2012 against Stabenow or this year in 2014, Lynn Land is the GOP's choice now, but would may have done well too. Former Gov. James Blanchard: (1983-1991) Should of ran for Senate in 2014, to replace Carl Levin, if he had wanted to.

Montana: Former Gov. Marc Racicot (R) (1993-2001): Should have ran in 2012 against Tester or this year in 2014, but he declined.

Maine: Former Gov. John Baldacci (R) (2003-2011): Should have ran in 2012 when Olympia Snowe retired.

Minnesota: 1) Former Gov. Jesse Ventura (Reform-Independent) (1999-2003): Yes, it sounds crazy, but Ventura should have challenged Coleman-Franken in '08, and he may have had a chance. In 2006 and 2012, too. Should of ran in 2014.
2) Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (2003-2011):After his poor presidential bid at Ames Straw Poll, he should have ran in 2014 against Franken.

Illinois: Former Gov. Jim Edgar (R) (1991-99): Edgar should of ran in 2010, he may have done better against Giannoulias than Kirk's two-point win.

Oklahoma: 1) Former Gov. Frank Keating (R) (1995-2003) Keating should have ran in 2014 when Coburn announced retirement in middle of second term.
2) Former Gov. Brad Henry (D) (2003-2011) Should have ran in 2014 when Coburn announced retirement.

[NHLiberal]

Michigan: Former Gov. John Engler (R) (1991-2003): Should have ran in 2012 against Stabenow or this year in 2014, Lynn Land is the GOP's choice now, but would may have done well too. Former Gov. James Blanchard: (1983-1991) Should of ran for Senate in 2014, to replace Carl Levin, if he had wanted to.

Montana: Former Gov. Marc Racicot (R) (1993-2001): Should have ran in 2012 against Tester or this year in 2014, but he declined.

Maine: Former Gov. John Baldacci (R) (2003-2011): Should have ran in 2012 when Olympia Snowe retired.

Minnesota: 1) Former Gov. Jesse Ventura (Reform-Independent) (1999-2003): Yes, it sounds crazy, but Ventura should have challenged Coleman-Franken in '08, and he may have had a chance. In 2006 and 2012, too. Should of ran in 2014.
2) Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (2003-2011):After his poor presidential bid at Ames Straw Poll, he should have ran in 2014 against Franken.

Illinois: Former Gov. Jim Edgar (R) (1991-99): Edgar should of ran in 2010, he may have done better against Giannoulias than Kirk's two-point win.

Oklahoma: 1) Former Gov. Frank Keating (R) (1995-2003) Keating should have ran in 2014 when Coburn announced retirement in middle of second term.
2) Former Gov. Brad Henry (D) (2003-2011) Should have ran in 2014 when Coburn announced retirement.

With the exception of Henry, literally none of these are good suggestions. I don't really think it makes sense for Governors to run for Senate 10 years after their gubernatorial terms end.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Getting elected to the Senate is no gimme. That's Jerry Brown's one loss.

[TX Conservative Dem]

Brown lost in a Democratic year in 1982 when Democrats were winning everywhere else.

Plus it didn't help that Brown's bids for the Presidency in 1976 and 1980 were used as a campaign issue by Wilson.

I've heard those two hated each other.

[CountyTy90]

Brown lost in a Democratic year in 1982

Yeah, '82 in California had some interesting races.

Then '86 was interesting too.

As was a'90...

Damn it I wish California still had interesting races.

I'm hoping Comptroller get competitive this year. Swearingen looks like a good candidate.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Granholm was very disliked and unpopular despite winning 3 consecutive statewide elections as Michigan State AG in 1998 and Governor in 2002 and 2006. The economy tanked on her watch and she wasn't going to win statewide office ever again if she tried to go for the United States Senate down the road.

More people blamed Bush for that than Granholm.

[Mister Mets]

Michigan: Former Gov. John Engler (R) (1991-2003): Should have ran in 2012 against Stabenow or this year in 2014, Lynn Land is the GOP's choice now, but would may have done well too. Former Gov. James Blanchard: (1983-1991) Should of ran for Senate in 2014, to replace Carl Levin, if he had wanted to.

Montana: Former Gov. Marc Racicot (R) (1993-2001): Should have ran in 2012 against Tester or this year in 2014, but he declined.

Maine: Former Gov. John Baldacci (R) (2003-2011): Should have ran in 2012 when Olympia Snowe retired.

Minnesota: 1) Former Gov. Jesse Ventura (Reform-Independent) (1999-2003): Yes, it sounds crazy, but Ventura should have challenged Coleman-Franken in '08, and he may have had a chance. In 2006 and 2012, too. Should of ran in 2014.
2) Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (2003-2011):After his poor presidential bid at Ames Straw Poll, he should have ran in 2014 against Franken.

Illinois: Former Gov. Jim Edgar (R) (1991-99): Edgar should of ran in 2010, he may have done better against Giannoulias than Kirk's two-point win.

Oklahoma: 1) Former Gov. Frank Keating (R) (1995-2003) Keating should have ran in 2014 when Coburn announced retirement in middle of second term.
2) Former Gov. Brad Henry (D) (2003-2011) Should have ran in 2014 when Coburn announced retirement.

Brad Henry's the perfect age to run for Senate, but 2014 was just not likely to be a good cycle for Democrats in very Republican states.

He might be able to run in the future. Inhofe will be in his mid-80s in 2020, in an election that could be better for Democrats.

[politicallefty]

Brown lost in a Democratic year in 1982 when Democrats were winning everywhere else.

From the way I understand it, Brown lost to Wilson largely due to "law and order" issues, which were big in California during the '80s (the same kind of issues that gave Deukmejian two terms and had three CA Supreme Court Justices lose their retention votes in 1986).

[TX Conservative Dem]

Law & Order issues are still used today.

[Suburbia]

Right now, some Republican activists and pundits are not impressed with Terri Lynn Land, so far in the 2014 Senate race. I think former Gov. John Engler should have ran.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/republicans-are-losing-faith-in-their-michigan-senate-candidate-20140806

[Vega]

Engler hasn't held elected office in 10 years. He's a little old, too.

[SamInTheSouth]

In 2016: Sandoval.

There is speculation on that.  He leads Reid in a hypothetical poll, although that doesn't mean anything.  Reid trailed in 2010 and ended up winning by 5.  If Reid retires though, Sandoval has it in the bag.

[Vega]

Sean Parnell probably could have ran for Senate and win the Republican primary. Not sure how'd he do against Begich, though.