WASHINGTON – Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire is on the short list to replace Solicitor General Elena Kagan, an Obama administration official confirmed Wednesday.
President Barack Obama nominated Kagan for the Supreme Court earlier this week.
Gregoire has been one of Obama’s favorite governors, attending meetings at the White House on everything from health care to education. A two-term incumbent and three-term state attorney general, she endorsed Obama early, before the 2008 Washington state caucuses.
Gregoire’s name has come up before in speculation about Obama administration posts. Her office said Wednesday she expects to remain governor until her term ends in 2012.
“She has made it fairly clear to the Obama administration that these are difficult times, she’s not going to leave the state, especially right now,” spokeswoman Karina Shagren said.
Gregoire told Northwest News Network reporter Austin Jenkins on Wednesday she owes it to Washington residents to serve a four-year term, and said no one has contacted her about the solicitor general job.
The solicitor general represents the federal government in cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and is sometimes called the 10th Justice.
If Obama picks her and she accepts, Gregoire would join two other Washington state politicians in the top ranks of the administration – former Gov. Gary Locke is commerce secretary and former King County executive Ron Sims is No. 2 at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, a Democrat, would take over should Gregoire fly east.
A resignation before Oct. 3 would trigger an election for the office, potentially speeding up decisions by politicians who are considering gubernatorial campaigns in 2012. Observers see Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna and Democratic U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee as possible candidates in 2012, when Gregoire is not expected to run for a third term.
If the vacancy opens after Oct. 3, however, there would be no special election for the job in 2011. Instead Owen would serve until the job comes up on the 2012 ballot.
The potential for last-minute campaign chaos has some political observers saying they’d be surprised if a decision is made before the November elections, especially since a search for a replacement won’t even begin until after Kagan is confirmed, which might not happen until later this summer.
“The administration is going to be very mindful about when they announce someone,” said University of Washington political science professor Matt Barreto.
Democratic political strategist Cathy Allen, who has advised Gregoire, said “it ain’t happening.”
The Associated Press and staff writers Jordan Schrader and Peter Callaghan contributed to this report.
Les Blumenthal: 202-383-0008
lblumenthal@mcclatchydc.com
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