Sen. Saxby Chambliss Steps Down; Who Might Replace Him?
COMMENTARY | Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss today announced to his staff that he’s calling it quits. Chambliss, who has emerged as somewhat of a centrist compromiser after running a pretty conservative campaign in 2002 for the seat, will step down after two terms.
Jim Galloway with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has already begun speculating on who might run. Galloway claims that Rep. Paul Broun had already been contemplating a primary challenge. Broun won his seat against an establishment Republican, and is considered something of an arch-conservative or libertarian, which should make him the favorite of the tea party.
Galloway also notes Rep. Tom Price from the Cobb County area might also mount a challenge, but Price seems more likely to build his power in the House of Representatives rather than shift over to Senate and start all over.
Finally, Rep. Phil Gingrey is rumored to be considering the contest. Gingrey, one of the few congressional physicians, would be a good candidate, especially if Obamacare is part of the discussion in the 2014 election. His district started in West Georgia, but moved closer to Atlanta, and Gingrey has shown he can win rural and urban votes.
One additional name that might be considered is Rep. Lynn Westmoreland. Westmoreland, who represents a district that stretches from Columbus to the edge of Atlanta, had a distinguished leadership career in the Georgia state legislature. He has a conservative voting record, and has bucked the national establishment on several occasions, which could appear to Georgia GOP primary voters. He may be the one most likely to prevail in the Republican primary, if he runs.
But my favorite choice would be Herman Cain. The former businessman and Fox News contributor, who ran for President in 2012, could be an intriguing choice. Cain was a front-runner at the time, and I don’t think the scandal will hurt him too bad. In 2004, he shocked the establishment by finishing second in the Georgia Senate primary, beating out a congressman.
On the Democratic Party side, most expect Rep. John Barrow from East Georgia to run, but I think that’s less likely to occur. Barrow beat the odds winning his district and declined to take on Chambliss. There are other good candidates, such as former Rep. Jim Marshall, a Vietnam veteran from the Macon area who lost because he was put in a bad district. Former State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, a good candidate who ran in a bad year for Democrats in the 2010 Senate contest, should also take a look at the race.
Most may expect the race to go to the Republicans, but Democrats kept the state close in 2008 and 2012. Five years ago, Chambliss was forced into a runoff with a weak Democratic candidate. Don’t dismiss the chances for an upset, in both the primary and general election.
John A. Tures is an associate professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Ga.
