rssCapito Declines to Run for Byrd’s Senate Seat
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 11:37 am
- 26 Comments
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said on a state politics radio show this morning that she will not be a candidate in a special Senate election for the seat previously occupied by the late Robert Byrd (D).
Capito told Hoppy Kercheval, host of “Metronews Talkline,” that she would instead continue her House re-election campaign. Capito was first elected to her seat in 2000.
“I think that it’s not about me, it’s about what’s good for West Virginia,” she said. “And I think, in looking at everything here, that I will decline running for the Senate seat, decline running for two seats, and keep to my original commitment.”
Though state GOP lawmakers managed to get an amendment that would have allowed current candidates for other offices to also run in the Senate race — it’s been referred to as the “Capito Amendment” because it was obviously a way to get her into the race — into the compromise bill authorizing the special election, Capito said today she was concerned there would be confusion if she had run in both races.
“I think that it would look like it was power grab in some people’s minds,” she said. “I think the chaos that would have ensued trying to run for two offices I think wouldn’t serve the electorate.”
She also noted that her voice might be more effective in the House because Republicans are more likely to take it over than the Senate.
“My congressional voice is growing stronger every day and I think I can be very effective in the House, assuming I get re-elected,” she said.
Capito’s exit makes it more likely that Gov. Joe Manchin, the Democrats’ likely nominee for the seat, will win the election — she was widely viewed as the Republican candidate most likely to keep the race competitive. Still, even Capito appeared to be a long-shot to win — Manchin led her 53-39 percent in a Rasmussen Reports poll released earlier this month. Sen. Carte Goodwin (D), who was sworn in yesterday, will hold the seat until after the Nov. 2 election.
Follow Jimm Phillips on Twitter
26 Comments
Pingback posted July 21, 2010 @ 12:06 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by CyG_News, WashIndependent. WashIndependent said: Capito Declines to Run for Byrd's Senate Seat – http://bit.ly/aehtNG [...]
Pingback posted July 21, 2010 @ 12:25 pm
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd's Senate Seat « The Washington … [...]
Pingback posted July 21, 2010 @ 1:30 pm
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd's Senate Seat « The Washington … [...]
Pingback posted July 21, 2010 @ 2:09 pm
[...] Street JournalShelley Moore Capito Won't Seek Byrd SeatCBS NewsPittsburgh Post Gazette -The Washington Independent -Boston Globeall 636 news [...]
Pingback posted July 21, 2010 @ 3:26 pm
[...] on the heels of this morning’s news that Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) will not be a candidate in the special election for the [...]
Pingback posted July 21, 2010 @ 4:14 pm
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd's Senate Seat « The Washington … [...]
Pingback posted July 21, 2010 @ 5:16 pm
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd's Senate Seat « The Washington … [...]
Comment posted July 21, 2010 @ 4:50 pm
So, Capito won't be running for both positions. But, with the amendment on the books, can Goodwin run against her as the Dem challenger? Or is he in a different district?
Pingback posted July 21, 2010 @ 6:16 pm
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd's Senate Seat « The Washington … [...]
Pingback posted July 21, 2010 @ 6:55 pm
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd's Senate Seat « The Washington … [...]
Trackback posted July 21, 2010 @ 7:47 pm
Pedro and Phillies not linking up in 2010…
I found your entry interesting to I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…
Pingback posted July 21, 2010 @ 8:58 pm
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd’s Senate Seat « The Washington Independent [...]
Pingback posted July 22, 2010 @ 4:27 am
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd's Senate Seat « The Washington … [...]
Trackback posted July 23, 2010 @ 1:33 am
Gonzalez, Hudson help Braves rout Padres (AP)…
I found your entry interesting to I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…
Pingback posted July 23, 2010 @ 12:06 pm
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd's Senate Seat « The Washington … [...]
Pingback posted July 23, 2010 @ 3:22 pm
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd's Senate Seat « The Washington … [...]
Pingback posted July 23, 2010 @ 3:47 pm
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd's Senate Seat « The Washington … [...]
Pingback posted July 23, 2010 @ 6:58 pm
[...] Shelley Moore Capito’s (R) announcement Wednesday that she would not run in West Virginia’s special election to replace the late Sen. [...]
Trackback posted July 23, 2010 @ 8:14 pm
Yankees’ Rodriguez hits 599th home run (AP)…
I found your entry interesting to I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…
Trackback posted July 23, 2010 @ 11:35 pm
Ramona and Beezus (2010)…
I found your entry interesting thus I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…
Trackback posted July 24, 2010 @ 2:09 am
A-Rod hits 599th HR, Yankees beat Royals (AP)…
I found your entry interesting to I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…
Trackback posted July 24, 2010 @ 7:12 pm
Courtney Force recovers from accident, gains seat time…
I didn’t quite follow this to begin with. But when I read it a third time, it all added up in my mind. Thanks for the insight. Definitely something to think about. Thanks for sharing…
Trackback posted July 25, 2010 @ 7:12 am
The Invention of Lying (2009)…
I found your entry interesting thus I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…
Trackback posted July 30, 2010 @ 10:32 pm
Airline fees in the hot seat…
I found your entry interesting thus I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…
Pingback posted August 18, 2010 @ 7:08 pm
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd’s Senate Seat « The Washington Independent [...]
Pingback posted August 19, 2010 @ 9:24 pm
[...] Capito Declines to Run for Byrd’s Senate Seat « The Washington Independent [...]
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
