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DEL.ICIO.USConfirmed: Hudgens drops out of contest for 10th, but may still have a race on his hands
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Jackson County News has confirmed the withdrawal of state Sen. Ralph Hudgens from the 10th District congressional race to replace the late Charlie Norwood.
The move gives an instant advantage to state Sen. Jim Whitehead, a Republican from the Augusta area.
“It’s just my heart feeling that I just don’t have it in me to run,” the newspaper quoted Hudgens, also a Republican, as saying. “There was no discouragement. I know they’re going to say that people from Augusta got to you. But I haven’t talked to anybody from Augusta except those who were encouraging me to run.”
Hudgens said that he and his wife, Suzanne, have been praying about whether he should run. He said they reached a decision Friday morning. Hudgens said that he will seek re-election to his District 47 post in 2008.
“I love being in the Senate,” Hudgens said. But that may not be a sure thing now. Hudgens’ change in direction has left some frustrated, and angry.
Former state senator Brian Kemp of Athens, a Republican who left the chamber last year to run for commissioner of agriculture, had already announced his intention to replace Hudgens in the Senate. With Hudgens’ blessing.
And now Kemp says he’s in that race to stay. Even if he has to wait another year and challenge Hudgens in the GOP primary.
A spokesman sent us the following statement from Kemp last night: “I have already filed paperwork to run for state Senate District 47 and intend to run, regardless of when the election is.”
Comments
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By howard
March 10, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
Haha! Hudgens is about to get what’s coming to him for being such an out of touch, tacky jerk.
By Dan Matthews
March 11, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
Ralphie should have his son erect a big billboard sign at his house in Comer saying “Here is the soon-to-be former State Senator and man who could not keep his mouth shut before Charlie Norwood died about how much he wanted his seat in Congress, and now he lacks the fortitude to follow through, and let’s not forget last year’s malapportionment of neighboring Athens-Clarke County without their request or approval.”
By Elbert GOP
March 11, 2007 6:46 PM | Link to this
I’m wondering if Ralphie was the one behind the pollsters from NJ calling my house last week. He must have received the results and saw that he didn’t have the support. Now he wants to stay in the Senate. As I have said all along …. Ralph Hudgens is an OPPORTUNIST!
By Jackson Co.
March 12, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
Ralph Hudgens is going to get what he deserves—and that is tough primary opposition from Senator Brian Kemp. Our district needs to get rid of this loser once and for all, and Brian Kemp is the man to do it. Thanks Ralph for doing ONE thing right, and that is, drawing Kemp into your district!!
By James
March 12, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
Hudgens has run and lost a bid for Congress three times. Looks like he was reminded of the Three Strikes rule. Go Kemp, Go!!!!!