All good things must come to an end:
Wyoming political sources say Gov. Dave Freudenthal will announce today that he will not run for a third term….
Had Freudenthal decided to run again, he would have faced a state law limiting the state’s top elected officials to two terms. But it was expected that he could have successfully mounted a challenge to the law under the state constitution. The Wyoming Supreme Court earlier invalidated a term limit for state legislators.
I hadn’t really thought about Freudenthal’s dilemma recently, but it does seem like, if he were going to set about challenging the state’s term limit law, he should have begun the legal process months ago, in order to have a ruling on his side with enough time to run an effective campaign. So, considering that there are only three months until Wyoming’s Democratic primary (5/28), it shouldn’t be a surprise he’s wrapping things up.
Still, a bad side effect of the Freudenthal’s long wait is that Democrats have to scramble to find a replacement. State Sen. Mike Massie was rounding up support (with Freudenthal’s blessing) late last year to run if Freudenthal didn’t, so he probably has a head-start on any other Dems who want to take a whack at trying to hold the state house in this dark-red state. With a number of Republican heavyweights either in the race (state Auditor Rita Meyer, former US Attorney Matt Mead) or poised to get in (state House speaker Colin Simpson), this looks like a difficult retention for the Dems no matter who they put up. (Swing State Project already had this race at “Likely Republican,” in expectation that Freudenthal wouldn’t run again, so we don’t need to move anything.)
RaceTracker Wiki: WY-Gov
But now WY goes the way of the rest of the gubernatorial elections, red states go back to electing Republican governors and blue states go back to elected Democrats.
And thankfully, there isnt anything strategic about keeping WY gov save for how it makes the map look with a big blue square added and an automatic +1 to our election results.
When I say strategic, how do other people interpret what makes a state one we should strategically go for, as Democrats/progressives/politically junkies. It seems that I only worry about other state’s gubernatorials for two reasons, redistricting and the possibility of pro-gay rights legislation. Anyone else got other reasons about caring for other state’s local elections besides those two, and I suppose for more blue on the map?
Thank you Gary Trauner for the inspiration beginning four years ago.
Speaking of Trauner, any word on what he plans to do, politically?
Im not surprised, but would be better if he run.
I wait for news from this race since months.
I think republicans will fight against term limits when they need. Sure.
Blue states are becoming the key for democrats this year.
Freudenthal runs for Senate or the at large seat sometime. He could beat Barrasso in 2012 or Lummis now. I think Lummis would probably run for Governor if he ran for her seat, the Mike Castle, Tom Carper switcheroo.