2010 US Senate Updates

--Very few women succeeded in getting their party's nominations in the 2008 US Senate election cycle. And several women considered potentially strong candidates have already decided to pass on 2010, including Alex Sink in Florida and Crit Luallen in Kentucky, while Kathleen Sebelius appears headed to Washington rather than the Kansas Senate seat. Still, a number of women are going to try in 2010 -- but for many it will be an uphill battle just getting through the primary. In Missouri, secretary of state Robin Carnahan looks like a shoo-in for the Democratic primary, while former state treasurer Sarah Steelman is expected to fight congressman Roy Blunt for the Republican nomination. Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is taking on the party choice, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, for the Democratic nomination; state auditor Mary Taylor is a possibility to go against Rob Portman on the GOP side. Tampa mayor Pam Iorio is emerging as a serious Democratic candidate in a potentialy crowded field. US Rep. Carol Shea-Porter and is reportedly still considering running against US Rep. Paul Hodes for the Democratic nod in New Hampshire; AG Kelly Ayotte is considered less likely to try. On the GOP side in NH, radio host Jennifer Horn is on all the rumor lists, although I would think she'd be more likely to try again at the House seat. Christine O'Donnell is the first Republican to announce for Deleware. There will almost certainly be women running in the Illinois Democratic primary, but of course we don't know who the incumbent will actually be by then. A couple of Democratic women are interested in running if, as seems likely, Kay Bailey Hutchison resigns to focus on her Texas gubernatorial campaign -- but those women will be up against Houston mayor Bill White and other strong candidates. At least two women are looking at primary challenges against newly appointed Kristen Gillebrand in New York, although one way or another that's likely to be a female nominee.

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