Rep. Debra Hobbs Considering A Run For Governor (UPDATED)

The Republican primary for Governor might get a bit more crowded.  Yesterday, The Tolbert Report picked up on a rumor that a northwest Arkansas Republican legislator was considering jumping into the race.  Today, I have confirmed that State Rep. Debra Hobbs is giving the race a serious look.

“I am prayerfully considering serving the state in this capacity,” said Hobbs when asked if she was looking at the Governor’s race.

Hobbs is currently serving her third and final term in the Arkansas House before term limits kicks in.  She is on the House Education, State Agencies and Governmental Affairs, Legislative Council, and Joint Performance Review committees. During her time in the House, Hobbs consistently voted to the right. Most recently, she joined a minority of House members that opposed the private option health care expansion, which remains a hot issue in Republican circles.

Before being elected to the legislature, Hobbs served on the Benton County Sunshine School Board and was a teacher and school counselor.

So far, former Congressman Asa Hutchinson and retired businessman Curtis Coleman have announced for the race as Republicans and House Speaker Davy Carter has indicated he will be making a decision in the next few weeks.

Extra credit – KARK has an interview with current Gov. Mike Beebe who says the race to follow him will be “a donnybrook, a dogfight.”

UPDATE – A friend of mine suggested that I should ask Hobbs if she plans to run as a Republican or an Independent.  So I did. Her answer…

“I am a Republican and will most likely run on the Republican ticket,” answered Hobbs.

UPDATE II – She adds following my update, “I will be running in the Republican primary as a conservative Republican.”