Politics & Government

Talk starts of a return for defeated Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in 2016

November 13, 2014 10:56 AM

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan pauses after delivering her concession speech on Nov. 4, 2014, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. Hagan was defeated by Republican challenger Thom Tillis.
U.S. Senator Kay Hagan pauses after delivering her concession speech on Nov. 4, 2014, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. Hagan was defeated by Republican challenger Thom Tillis. MCT
U.S. Senator Kay Hagan pauses after delivering her concession speech on Nov. 4, 2014, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. Hagan was defeated by Republican challenger Thom Tillis. MCT

Democrats already are looking at the possibility of a 2016 comeback for North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan, according to reporting in Politico and National Journal just a week after her narrow loss to Republican Thom Tillis.

Hagan could challenge Republican Sen. Richard Burr, who will be up for re-election in two years. And 2016 will be a presidential race, when Democrats can expect stronger turnout than in a midterm.

A few other Senate Democrats could be in the same position. Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska, who also lost a very close race, could possibly run against Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican. And if Sen. Mary Landrieu loses her December runoff election in Louisiana, there will be an election in her state in 2016, and the incumbent, Republican Sen. David Vitter, has said he’s running for governor.

  Comments