Comptroller Candidate Medina Open to Gubernatorial Bid
Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina could end up running again for the state's highest office, this time as an independent, she said Friday afternoon.
Medina, who has been exploring a race for comptroller for several months, told the Tribune earlier this month that she is having trouble raising the amount of money she thinks is necessary to mount a competitive campaign for that office. She cited a particular lack of interest from wealthy campaign donors who are typically pivotal in financing successful statewide races in Texas.
At the same time, in a development first reported by the Quorum Report, she said she has been hearing from potential donors interested in seeing her run as an independent for governor. Collectively, she has received pledges totaling millions of dollars, she said, and that has her wondering whether she ought to switch from one race to the other.
“I'm looking at the best opportunity to move these policy ideas that I have been working on: private property, state sovereignty, reform tax policy in Texas,” Medina said.
When Medina ran for governor in 2010, she drew strong interest from Tea Party activists but ultimately came in third in the Republican primary with almost 19 percent. Gov. Rick Perry drew 51 percent, avoiding a runoff with either Medina or Kay Bailey Hutchison, then a U.S. senator, who attracted 31 percent. Throughout the campaign, critics accused Medina of setting herself up to be a spoiler in the race — a charge she could face again by running as an independent in 2014.
