Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus is being floated as a possible candidate for governor in 2018, after declining to a rule out a bid on Wednesday.
Following Straus' surprise announcement on Wednesday that he would not seek re-election to the Texas House of Representatives, rumors began circulating that Straus was setting up for a governor campaign. Supporters of a potential Straus campaign then began circulating rally signs on social media, supporting a Straus campaign.
When asked whether he plans to run for governor during a Wednesday press conference, Straus said, "I'm not one to close doors."
Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith wrote on Twitter that Straus "sounds like candidate for...governor." The Austin-American Stateman also published an opinion piece, writing that Straus could "conceivably run for governor or lieutenant governor, in 2018, and win."
If Straus joined the race for governor, he would face Republicans Greg Abbott and Larry SECEDE Kilgore and Democrats Cedric Davis, Tom Wakely and Jeffrey Payne.
Filing for statewide office begins next month.
