After Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl announced his retirement last Friday, we saw the usual flood of speculation about who might run — on both sides — to replace him. So far, no one major has actually made the plunge, but here are a few of the people thinking about it (in no particular order):
Democrats:
• Rep. Tammy Baldwin (WI-02):
Sources close to Cong. Tammy Baldwin (D) say she is likely to run.
Baldwin has a strong progressive voting record and would also be the first openly gay member of the Senate.
• Ex-Sen. Russ Feingold:
Feingold’s former chief of staff Mary Irvine provided a statement to the Journal Sentinel saying Feingold didn’t know of Kohl’s plans before today and “This a time for people to thank Sen. Kohl for his service.” …
“Running for office in 2012 is not something Russ is eager to do or has been planning to do. He is very committed to his current projects — teaching law at Marquette University Law School, Progressives United, and writing a book about American foreign policy. He will come to a decision, in the coming months, after consulting with family and friends and people in Wisconsin.”
Feingold of course needs no introduction.
• Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03):
Democratic sources say Kind and Barrett are looking at bids but both declined to address the Senate race in statements released by their respective offices.
Kind is a veteran Democrat who hails from a swing district. He won a very tight race last year against state Sen. Dan Kapanke (who is now a recall target.)
• Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett:
Democratic sources say Kind and Barrett are looking at bids but both declined to address the Senate race in statements released by their respective offices.
Barrett performed creditably in last year's gubernatorial race, losing 52-46 to Scott Walker in a brutal year for Dems. He could also challenge Walker again in a recall election, if there is one.
Republicans:
• Rep. Paul Ryan (WI-01):
“Herb just announced this Friday,” Ryan said on CNN's "State of the Union." “It was a bit of a surprise to all of us. So, my family and voters are just started digesting this. I plan on making an announcement very quickly.”
Would Ryan — now the very icon of the GOP's plan to destroy Medicare as we know it — really risk a run? He's already enduring attacks from members of own party over his budget plan (actual response to Newt Gingrich: "With allies like that, who needs the left?"). I don't think he's in a happy place right now.
• State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald:
[S]ource close to Sen. Scott Fitzgerald says he is also interested in running for Kohl's seat.
• State Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald:
Spokesman for Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald says he will consider a run for US Senate if Rep. Paul Ryan doesn't.
The Fitzgeralds are brothers and are both allies of Gov. Scott Walker.
• Ex-Gov. Tommy Thompson:
A spokesman for Thompson, contacted through the Washington law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld where he is a partner, said the former governor was "appreciative" of Kohl's service and " has not made any decisions" regarding a 2012 run.
Yes, that Tommy Thompson.
• Ex-Rep. Mark Neumann (WI-01):
Asked if he would run for the open seat, Neumann said Friday: "We haven't ruled it out and it's certainly something Sue (his wife) and I want to think about and pray about."
Neumann had actually expressed interest in running before Kohl announced his retirement.
• Ex-state Sen. Ted Kanavas:
"I’m going to go listen to people and what they have to say, and if they say I should be a U.S. senator, we’re going to do it," Kanavas said.
Er, who?
• Businessman Tim Michels:
Republican businessman Tim Michels, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2004, confirmed his interest in the race in an interview with Roll Call.
“Right now, I’m just working my tail off,” Michels said. “It’s something that I’m sure a lot of people will consider, myself included.”
Michels put about $2.4 million of his own money into his losing campaign against Russ Feingold in '04, so perhaps he could partially self-finance again.
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