Bradley rules out running for statewide office next year

WOLFEBORO, N.H. —Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley tells WMUR-TV that he will not run for statewide office in 2014, a significant blow to state Republicans who nearly took it for granted that Bradley would run for either governor or U.S. Senate next year.

Bradley said there have been some new health issues among family members and he will focus his attention there instead of running for major office.

"Family comes first," Bradley said.

This also has to be a blow for Bradley, who held the 1st Congressional District seat for two-terms and before losing twice to win the seat back. When he went to the New Hampshire Senate it was assumed to be as a bit of a political placeholder keeping him in politics. After passing on runs for major office in 2010 and 2012 he forged alliances throughout the party and appeared primed to run for something next year.

While it was assumed for much of the year that he would run for U.S. Senate, there was a push inside the Republican Party in the last few weeks to get Bradley to run for governor.

In theory he has only ruled out a statewide run so he could still run for his old Congressional seat again or to re-election to the state Senate. In the meantime, Republicans will now have to begin to contemplate what 2014 looks like without Bradley as a major candidate.

With the state primary almost exactly a year away, Republicans don't have a single announced candidate for governor, U.S. Senate or either Congressional seat. That is expected to change Wednesday when former state Sen. Gary Lambert, R-Nashua, is expected to announce his bid in the 2nd Congressional District to take on freshman Annie Kuster.

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