0
Votes

Cohen: Sebelius should stay on for now to save Kansas Democratic Party

Column photo

By Ben Cohen

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

There were a lot of interesting rumors floating around last year regarding the future plans of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. As a consistently successful Democrat in the traditionally Republican-leaning Sunflower State, Sebelius has garnered attention during the past few years.

Rumors last summer about Barack Obama picking Sebelius as his running mate did not pan out, but she was given a position as a chairwoman for the Democratic National Convention in Denver. And when Obama won the election in November, Sebelius was high on the lists for a couple of Cabinet positions.

The governor herself shot down speculation about the Cabinet positions, saying her priority was to remain in Kansas. This prompted some rather absurd speculation that she was angling herself to become the next chancellor of the University, because she said she would not accept a Cabinet position around the same time Robert Hemenway announced his impending retirement.

2010 will be Sebelius’ last year as governor. In that same year, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) will finish what he has promised will be his last term in Washington. It has also been speculated for some time that Sebelius would run for Senate after her time as governor was complete. Brownback’s pledge gives her a prime opportunity to do that without having to deal with an incumbent.

All that was speculation enough, but now a new issue has come up. President Obama’s choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), withdrew his name from consideration because of apparent tax problems. Once again, Sebelius has been mentioned as a likely selection, and this time other potential candidates haven’t gained as much steam.

It seems it would be difficult for the governor to pass up this position. It would complete her ascension to the highest echelons of American government and would let her focus on a field where she has made her name in Kansas, as Insurance Commissioner in the 1990s and as governor.

For Kansas, though, and especially for the state’s Democratic Party, it could be disastrous. Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson is capable enough to hold the job for the remainder of the term, but he has said he is not interested in running for governor himself. Even if he did, his more moderate views and status as not only a former Republican but a former state party chair have never pleased some Kansas Democrats. He likely would not be able to energize Democrats the way Sebelius did, and Brownback could easily walk into the governor’s position.

But the Senate race is where Sebelius’ absence would be missed most. Two prominent Kansas Republicans, Todd Tiahrt and Jerry Moran, have expressed interest in the seat. The Kansas Democratic Party may not have anyone strong enough to challenge either for a position Republicans have held exclusively for decades. Having already proven herself capable of handling powerful state GOP candidates such as Jim Barnett and Phill Kline, Sebelius could easily defeat Moran or Tiahrt in that campaign.

Sebelius, the KDP, and Kansas as a whole face a conundrum: What should Sebelius prioritize? A place among Washington’s power elite is tempting, but she could easily attain that next year. A long-awaited Democratic victory in the U.S. Senate would also keep the slow rise of the Democratic Party in Kansas moving, something that could pay dividends for her on a larger level in 2016 if she were interested in running for an even higher position. Running for Senate would make the wait to hold an executive position in Washington longer for Sebelius, but it would be better for the KDP and could still work for her in the long run. Whether she takes that path or simply goes for what may be a guaranteed spot is her decision.

— Cohen is a Topeka junior in political science.

Comments

Cohen: Sebelius should stay on for now to save Kansas Democratic Party

Seriously, this entire argument is based on what is best for a political party? Not the Americans she could serve as a cabinet member, or the Kansans she could serve as a senator, but a party. I just learned everything I needed to know about the worthlessness of political science.

Advertisement