MONROE - Sen. Jon Erpenbach wouldn't rule out a run for governor Monday morning, moments after Gov. Jim Doyle announced he won't seek a third term in 2010.
Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th Senate District, which includes Green County. He has been mentioned as a possible Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate if Doyle didn't run again.
On Monday, Erpenbach said a gubernatorial run "is something I'm looking at."
"People have talked with me about it," Erpenbach told the Times. He said he's not setting a deadline for making his decision.
"It's no rush. There are some things that have to be done before you make a decision like this," he added.
Erpenbach said he would be talking with family and friends and people he represents while making his decision.
"It really truly is wide open. We have an incumbent governor who we all thought a month ago was going to run for re-election. Now he's not," Erpenbach said. "That's going to open the doors for a lot of others."
But he added, "It's an extremely difficult proposition, traveling the state for a year and a half and raising money."
Should Erpenbach run for governor, and win in 2010, Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said he would "take a look" at running for state Senate.
Davis, in his third term as 80th District assemblyman, said he has no intentions of running for governor or state Senate, but if Erpenbach's Senate seat were to become vacant, it would be "something I'd take a look at," he said.
"Wisconsin's governor's race will become one of the most, if not the most, competitive races in the country," Davis said Monday. "You will see energy being put in from across the country."
Two prominent Republicans, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann already have declared their candidacies.
Doyle's lieutenant governor, Barbara Lawton, will run for governor, aide Ben Nuckels said Monday. Lawton, who's served two terms along with Doyle, "will have more to say about that in the near future," Nuckels said.
Lawton had said in the past she would run if Gov. Jim Doyle did not seek re-election.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan says he does not plan to run for governor. The Janesville Republican says he will ask voters to return him to Congress next year.
Former Gov. Tommy Thompson didn't rule out a bid. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen plans to run for re-election but through an aide left the door open to considering a gubernatorial run. Businessman Tim Michels, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004, declined comment on a potential run.
Doyle said Monday he won't seek a third term because he believes governors should limit themselves to two terms in office. He also wants other Democratic candidates to have time to build campaigns.
Davis on Monday congratulated Doyle "on a long record of public service."
"Whether you agree or disagree with him politically, you have to take a step back and say congratulations," Davis said.
Davis was surprised Doyle won't be seeking another term, but said it opens up Republicans to getting their ideas out and recapturing the governor's office.
"While trying to build his legacy in the remaining two years, I wonder if now (Doyle) will put political interests aside - for example, education reforms which I have been working on for years - now that he's not running, if that will take the element of special interest out of his decisions," Davis said.
In a news release following the governor's announcement, U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, praised Doyle for his "lifelong career of service to the people of Wisconsin."
"Governor Doyle has been a strong advocate for the people of Wisconsin in Washington, D.C., partnering with me to bring assistance in job protection and creation and economic development; and aid in times of crises. He has led the state with a strong hand and a compassionate heart," Baldwin said.
"As governor, he has initiated innovations in health care, education, energy efficiency, and conservation that make Wisconsin a model for the nation.
On Sunday, Baldwin spoke with the governor, who expressed "great excitement about all he hoped to accomplish in the remaining months of his administration," she said. "I also took from our conversation that he felt a sense of relief that he could focus squarely on his goals without needing to focus on all the distractions related to a campaign."
U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl said he was "sorry to learn" Doyle won't run again.
"He has been a great governor with many outstanding accomplishments," Kohl said in a news release.
U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold called Doyle "a strong advocate for the people he has served and a good friend."
"As governor, Jim has worked tirelessly to extend and protect health care coverage for Wisconsinites, defend the Great Lakes and our environment, and support working Wisconsinites," Feingold said in a news release.
Doyle has frequently been rumored as a possible contender for an appointment in President Barack Obama's administration. But on Monday he said he intended to serve out his full term as governor.
Doyle was an early and vocal supporter of Obama's, helping him campaign across Wisconsin and eventually win the state handily in 2008.
- The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th Senate District, which includes Green County. He has been mentioned as a possible Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate if Doyle didn't run again.
On Monday, Erpenbach said a gubernatorial run "is something I'm looking at."
"People have talked with me about it," Erpenbach told the Times. He said he's not setting a deadline for making his decision.
"It's no rush. There are some things that have to be done before you make a decision like this," he added.
Erpenbach said he would be talking with family and friends and people he represents while making his decision.
"It really truly is wide open. We have an incumbent governor who we all thought a month ago was going to run for re-election. Now he's not," Erpenbach said. "That's going to open the doors for a lot of others."
But he added, "It's an extremely difficult proposition, traveling the state for a year and a half and raising money."
Should Erpenbach run for governor, and win in 2010, Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said he would "take a look" at running for state Senate.
Davis, in his third term as 80th District assemblyman, said he has no intentions of running for governor or state Senate, but if Erpenbach's Senate seat were to become vacant, it would be "something I'd take a look at," he said.
"Wisconsin's governor's race will become one of the most, if not the most, competitive races in the country," Davis said Monday. "You will see energy being put in from across the country."
Two prominent Republicans, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann already have declared their candidacies.
Doyle's lieutenant governor, Barbara Lawton, will run for governor, aide Ben Nuckels said Monday. Lawton, who's served two terms along with Doyle, "will have more to say about that in the near future," Nuckels said.
Lawton had said in the past she would run if Gov. Jim Doyle did not seek re-election.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan says he does not plan to run for governor. The Janesville Republican says he will ask voters to return him to Congress next year.
Former Gov. Tommy Thompson didn't rule out a bid. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen plans to run for re-election but through an aide left the door open to considering a gubernatorial run. Businessman Tim Michels, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004, declined comment on a potential run.
Doyle said Monday he won't seek a third term because he believes governors should limit themselves to two terms in office. He also wants other Democratic candidates to have time to build campaigns.
Davis on Monday congratulated Doyle "on a long record of public service."
"Whether you agree or disagree with him politically, you have to take a step back and say congratulations," Davis said.
Davis was surprised Doyle won't be seeking another term, but said it opens up Republicans to getting their ideas out and recapturing the governor's office.
"While trying to build his legacy in the remaining two years, I wonder if now (Doyle) will put political interests aside - for example, education reforms which I have been working on for years - now that he's not running, if that will take the element of special interest out of his decisions," Davis said.
In a news release following the governor's announcement, U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, praised Doyle for his "lifelong career of service to the people of Wisconsin."
"Governor Doyle has been a strong advocate for the people of Wisconsin in Washington, D.C., partnering with me to bring assistance in job protection and creation and economic development; and aid in times of crises. He has led the state with a strong hand and a compassionate heart," Baldwin said.
"As governor, he has initiated innovations in health care, education, energy efficiency, and conservation that make Wisconsin a model for the nation.
On Sunday, Baldwin spoke with the governor, who expressed "great excitement about all he hoped to accomplish in the remaining months of his administration," she said. "I also took from our conversation that he felt a sense of relief that he could focus squarely on his goals without needing to focus on all the distractions related to a campaign."
U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl said he was "sorry to learn" Doyle won't run again.
"He has been a great governor with many outstanding accomplishments," Kohl said in a news release.
U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold called Doyle "a strong advocate for the people he has served and a good friend."
"As governor, Jim has worked tirelessly to extend and protect health care coverage for Wisconsinites, defend the Great Lakes and our environment, and support working Wisconsinites," Feingold said in a news release.
Doyle has frequently been rumored as a possible contender for an appointment in President Barack Obama's administration. But on Monday he said he intended to serve out his full term as governor.
Doyle was an early and vocal supporter of Obama's, helping him campaign across Wisconsin and eventually win the state handily in 2008.
- The Associated Press contributed to this story.