Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn has announced she will seek the governor's office as an independent candidate, rather than running in the GOP primary. Strayhorn made the announcement today at Pease Elementary School in Austin, which Strayhorn attended in her youth. "I am a Republican," Strayhorn said. "But I know we must set partisan politics aside and do what's right for Texas. That is why I am running for governor as an independent, a Texas Independent."

Strayhorn's speech contained her usual critiques of Gov. Rick Perry's record on school finance, immigration, and ethics. "Our governor has given us a culture of political division that has brought government to a grinding halt. He has given us higher property taxes, bigger government, higher insurance rates, toll roads, has abandoned our border, and ignored our public schools.

To run as an independent, one must get petition signatures from registered voters equal to at least one percent of the number who voted in the 2002 gubernatorial election. Only those who do not vote in primaries can sign, and the signatures must be collected during a one to two month period between the end of the governor's primary (and run-off, if necessary in either party) and May 11. Hence, life would be easier for Strayhorn if the Democratic primary is settled without a runoff.

Perry campaign spokesman Robert Black issued the following statement: “Carole Strayhorn’s decision to leave the GOP is a direct response to Gov. Perry’s strong leadership and support and an admission that she would have been defeated in the upcoming GOP primary by those who know her best: Texas Republican voters. Carole Strayhorn has once again offered only empty criticism and no solutions to Texas voters. Throughout her entire career, Carole Strayhorn has not produced a single meaningful reform, only empty promises that she has never kept. Today’s action is the type of transparent political opportunism that insults the intelligence of Texas voters and is destined for rejection and failure just as it was the first time she tried it.”

Dean Barkley, campaign director for Kinky Friedman, welcomed Strayhorn into the race. Barkley said Strayhorn called Friedman earlier today to let him know about her decision. "Our stategy is going to remain the same," Barkley said. "Giving hope to those who have lost hope in the political process, to give them a reason to vote once again ... People can judge for themselves who is the true independent, whether it is Kinky Friedman who has never been a Democrat or a Republican or Carole who has been both ... Texans are finally going to have more than two choices. They are going to have three or four choices which is great. We're happy about that ... Nobody's been representing those who aren't liberal Democrats or very conservative Republicans. And now, thank goodness, Texas is going to have more choices.

Chris Bell campaign spokesman Jason Stanford issued the following statement:
"All bets are officially off, though the possibility of a four-way general election arguably works in Chris Bell's favor. If the race comes down to three Republicans and one Democrat, all Chris Bell has to do to win is to get Democrats to vote for a Democrat. That scenario would seem to favor a Democrat with a history of fighting for what Democrats believe in. Chris Bell also looks pretty good in a four-way race that includes a flawed and vulverable incumbent and two extra campaigns trying to sack the castle. In this crowd, it’s going to be pretty obvious that Chris Bell is the only candidate offering new ideas about how to get Texas headed in the right direction. It’s not enough to be right about Rick Perry being wrong. With his New Mainstream message and his roadmap, only Chris Bell is offering new ideas to get Texas headed in the right direction."

Democrat Bob Gammage issued the following statement: “This is bad news for Rick Perry and great news for Texas. This guarantees that Rick Perry will have two strong opponents shedding light on his shortcomings all the way to November. There are plenty of decent Republicans out there who are fed up with Perry, Tom DeLay and the corrupt GOP Leadership. Texans understand that it is time for a change, that the current Republican leadership has turned its back on the needs of our families and our children and left then twisting in the wind. They are tired of the corruption, weakness and incompetence in the Governor’s office. Strayhorn’s defection is just the beginning of an exodus of thinking and caring Republicans from the ranks of a badly served GOP.
“This also reinforces our message that Perry, DeLay and the current Republican leadership are bad for all Texans, and we will carry that message to Democrats, angry independents and disaffected Republicans across Texas, through March and beyond.”

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