Kay Bailey Hutchinson runs for governor...in 2006

As we all know, Kay Bailey Hutchinson ran for governor in the Republican primary in 2010 against Rick Perry, who hitched himself to the Tea Party and beat her.

WI she had run in the Republican primary in 2006 instead (instead of running for reelection)? Could she have beaten Perry?
 
Better chance then than in 2010. She's pretty sharp.

But if she won, who would be running for her Senate seat? I don't know much about TX Repubs except that I should vote against them except for Judge Cosper in Harris County. Can't think of any Democrats either. Bill White and Rick Noriega are out as they don't have much of a record. Maybe US Rep Jackson-Lee could give it a go, though I doubt she'd win. If she did win, I can easily see Garnett Coleman taking Jackson-Lee's old US House seat.
 
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