This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, July 6, 2011 - State Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, had been expected for weeks to be preparing to launch a bid for the 2nd District congressional seat to be vacated by Republican Todd Akin, who's running for the U.S. Senate.
But Cunningham said in an interview today that she is seeking re-election instead, after "a thorough evaluation of where I'd have the most impact."
In the U.S. House, she said, "I'd be a freshman out of 435." By remaining in the state Senate, she will be an influential player among 34 members -- 26 of them Republicans.
Her decision leaves Republicans Ann Wagner and Ed Martin in the 2nd District congressional contest; Cunningham's absence is arguably a particular boost to Wagner's chances.
In a statement this morning, Cunningham had said, "I have never and will never run for a title; I run for the office where I can make the greatest impact in defending conservative values."
"Through my legislation including the first rejection of Obamacare in the entire nation (Proposition C), we've made great strides, but there is still much more work to be done," Cunningham said. "We need to continue to fight back against out-of-control spending, job-killing taxation and encroachments upon our freedoms from politicians here and in Washington, D.C. With that in mind, I announce my intention and commitment to run for a second term in the Missouri Senate."
Cunningham said in the interview that she was influenced, in part, by her potentially key role in such issues as whether Missouri will set up health insurance exchanges, as to be required by federal law in 2013. Cunningham had blocked a bill that handily passed the state House last session, saying the issue deserved further examination.
Cunningham is among the senators named to a special state Senate panel charged with focusing on insurance exchanges before the next legislative session begins in January.
But Cunningham made clear in the interview that she had been seriously tempted to run for Congress, and that she's not ruling out a future bid. "Obviously, it was a wonderful opportunity and I'd be crazy not to consider it,'' she said.
Cunningham said that she may make an endorsement in the 2nd District contest, but she emphasized that she considers herself a friend and ally of Wagner and Martin.
Cunningham is completing her first four-year term in the state Senate; she earlier served eight years in the Missouri House. She is popular with the tea party movement.
Cunningham gave Martin, Wagner and other influential Republicans a heads-up before this morning's announcement. In fact, Martin's statement lauding her decision landed in email boxes before Cunningham's did.
Said Martin's statement:
"Jane Cunningham IS a true conservative leader who has walked the walk not just talked the talk. I have watched Sen. Cunningham and marveled at her principled courage fighting for life, for education reform and for government living within its means. When I stood with Sen. Cunningham in Chesterfield City Hall last year, we knew that we had to fight back against Obamacare and we did with Jane Cunningham leading on the Health Care Freedom Act. Let me be clear: Jane Cunningham would be a strong member of Congress because she has stayed true to her principles and not simply said whatever she needed to be in office like many candidates today. I fully expect her to be in public service for many years as a state senator, as governor, or any other office she seeks."
Wagner's statement offers hints as to why Cunningham's decision particularly benefits her:
"Jane Cunningham is a great friend and an effective, conservative voice for St. Louis County in the Missouri state Senate. Our region has benefited from her leadership on so many issues especially the Health Care Freedom Act which sent an unmistakable signal to Washington about our state's opposition to the government takeover of health care. We both live in the 2nd Congressional District, are both conservative women, and both care deeply about our neighbors and the direction of our country, and I will be working hard to ensure Jane Cunningham returns to the state Senate."
Cunningham's withdrawal leaves Wagner as the only Republican candidate -- and perhaps, only major-party contender -- who already resides in the current and new 2nd District. Martin and the possible Democratic candidate, U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, both now live in the city of St. Louis.
Cunningham and Wagner are both high-profile Republican women and might have split any particular support among their gender, potentially helping Martin.
But Cunningham and Martin are much closer than Wagner with tea party groups, which may now gravitate to Martin.
