Gregoire begs off Kagan successor list, will stay in Olympia

The Associated Press

OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire has taken herself out of the running to replace Elena Kagan as solicitor general.

Gregoire called the White House this afternoon to say she doesn’t want to be considered for the job.

Her spokesman, Cory Curtis, says she told officials that the time wasn’t right for her or the state, but that she was “humbled she may have been considered.”

Kagan was confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court last Thursday. An Obama administration official had previously told The Associated Press that Gregoire, a lawyer and former state attorney general, was among those being considered to replace Kagan.