Though Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has pleaded with Sen. Kay Baily Hutchison (R-TX) not to resign her seat to run for governor, he expects her to step down "this fall sometime," the Houston Chronicle reports.
That would allow Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) "to appoint an interim senator and allow a
special election to take place in May 2010 instead of this November
(which would happen if she resigned this spring or summer)."
In a special election, Democrats "would have a golden opportunity to pick up the seat, with a strong field including Houston Mayor Bill White and ex-Comptroller John Sharp."