Source: Bill White to Run for Texas Governor

Sources tell FOX 26 News that Houston Mayor Bill White is expected to run for Texas governor in the 2010 election.

During a press conference Monday afternoon, White said he's considering running for Texas governor but won't a decision until at least Friday.

But a reliable source to FOX 26 says White, who was running for the U.S. Senate, will refocus his campaign and instead run for governor of Texas.

The Monday news conference  followed that of former Democratic Texas gubernatorial candidate Tom Schieffer, who announced his decision to drop out of the Texas governor's race because he couldn't convice people that he could win.

Schieffer, a former state lawmaker who served as ambassador to Japan and Australia under Republican President George W. Bush, also urged White to seek the nomination instead.

FOX 26 political consultants say the move is not surprising.

"I was surprised that he ran for the senate, but it would not surprise me if he did run for governor," said Sue Davis.

White was running for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's seat, who is also running for governor, but Hutchison recently announced she would not resign to run for governor until after the primaries.

The Houston Chronicle reports Mayor White said as recently as last week that he would not switch from the U.S. Senate race to the Texas governor's race.

But in a statement issued Monday, White wrote:

Since Friday a week ago Texans from all backgrounds and all regions have asked me to consider running to be our next Governor of Texas. Today I agree to consider running for Governor, and shall make a decision by Friday, December 4th.

Before then I invite the citizens of Texas to weigh in on this decision by visiting my website and emailing me at billwhite@billwhitefortexas.com.

Both our next Governor and Senator should bring new energy to the task of moving our state forward. In both positions, we need leadership that can bring our state together and reduce the strident partisanship in both Austin and Washington.

Texans know we can do better than ranking dead last in the nation in the percentage of our population with a high school diploma. Texans know we can do better than the last decade of soaring electricity and insurance costs, and skyrocketing college tuition.

Sen. Hutchison has postponed her departure from the Senate and acknowledged that her continued service limits her ability to campaign in our state. I share her belief, and that of her supporters, that we need a new Governor.

I thank many thousands of Texans who have supported my campaign with their volunteer hours and dollars. I will listen to your views on how we can best work together to do what is right for Texas. I especially welcome advice from the citizens of Texas' largest city, who know me best and have supported leadership by solutions, not just soundbites. You have been my partners in moving Houston forward by finding common ground, and running our City Hall with integrity, in a business-like, financially sound, and inclusive manner.

Politics aside, Texans should enjoy their friends and family during this week of Thanksgiving and say a prayer for those who cannot be home with their loved ones because they are serving us abroad.