Arizona Governor Jan Brewer Will Not Run For Re-Election

Barack Obama, Jan Brewer

Jan Brewer, whose time as Arizona Governor has been marked by controversies over anti-immigrant legislation, gay rights, and the shooting of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, announced today that she won’t be running for re-election:

“There does come a time to pass the torch of leadership. After completing this term in office, I will be doing just that,” Brewer said in a speech at the school her children attended.

Brewer had left the door open to running for a third term even though Arizona law limits governors to two terms. She has argued that because she took over for Democrat Janet Napolitano more than halfway through Napolitano’s term, she may be exempted.

Several Republicans have already lined up to run for Brewer’s seat including Secretary of State Ken Bennett and state Treasurer Doug Ducey. Democrat Fred DuVal has the inside track on other side. Republicans are favored to hold the seat given Arizona’s conservative tilt.

I doubt that this is the last we will hear from Brewer, though. There have been suggestions for some time now that she may be among those Republicans looking to challenge John McCain in 2016 if he decides to run for re-election. If McCain decides to retire, then it would seem almost certain that attention would shift to her as the most likely prominent Arizona Republican to jump into the race.

FILED UNDER: 2014 Election, 2016 Election, US Politics, , , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. legion says:

    It sounds like being governor of a state full of crazies, when the national media is actually paying attention to the craziness, and bugging you about it all the time, might just be more work and less fulfilling than she thought it would be…

  2. JWH says:

    She strikes me as an odd sort. She seems out there as far as her politics go, but she also seems to have a rather strong pragmatic streak to her.

  3. rudderpedals says:

    Think she’s presidential or veep material?

  4. Davebo says:

    @rudderpedals:

    No way. Too much baggage and the only stance she’s taken even resembling moderate was basically “I hate the queers too people but what about the Superbowl?”

    Then again if Grumpy McCain decides he has one more run in him I wouldn’t rule out a VP spot on the ticket for her. After all he’s done worse and doesn’t appear to learn from past mistakes.

  5. JoshB says:

    Term limits prevent her from running for a third term. She would have to actually challenge the State Constitution to run again.

  6. J-Dub says:

    I think she has a promising future as a saddle bag.

  7. al-Ameda says:

    Arizona – our Nuevo Oeste Florida.

    Jan was, essentially, a RINO anyway, the next governor will probably be to the right of Brewer.