Editorial: What's Next After Thornberry's Retirement

U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry called it quits this week after first being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994. The announcement was expected as Thornberry’s retirement had already been a subject of the political rumor mill for months and a laundry list of potential candidates had already been touted by local pundits. Here are some early thoughts on what to watch for following Thornberry’s big announcement on Monday.

1. What’s Four Price up to?

State Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo) is one of a number of local politicians who has been discussed by the media as a potential contender to succeed Thornberry. A representative since 2011, Price was unsuccessful in his bid to become Texas House Speaker in 2018, eventually backing the eventual winner, Republican Dennis Bonnen. It will be interesting to see if Price makes any moves towards a potential bid or if he stays put in his Texas House seat.

2. Will Elaine Hays actually run?

As the general public knows now, Amarillo City Councilwoman Elaine Hays has announced her interest and exploration of a bid to replace Thornberry. Hays previously challenged Thornberry in 2014, but if a candidate like Price or Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson was to enter the race, one might wonder if Hays would hold off on a congressional bid in 2020. It will be interesting to see if Hays pulls the trigger on a campaign or if she ends up passing on 2020.

3. Unexpected candidates?

Democrat Greg Sagan is officially in the race, but that’s it. Hays is looking at the race on the Republican side, but there is no guarantee that she will enter the contest. We know that former Amarillo Mayor Paul Harpole and former Amarillo City Councilman Randy Burkett have been among the candidates encouraged to enter congressional contests in past cycles. Will some unexpected contenders or elected officials jump into the race and shake things up in 2020?

These are just some early thoughts on the contest, but regardless, it will be interesting to see who enters the contest and how the race plays out.

Let the 2020 primaries begin!

-Thomas Warren III, Editor-in-Chief