Sebelius Rules Out Senate Run

Kathleen Sebelius, who resigned last week as President Barack Obama’s Health and Human Services Secretary, will not challenge Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) for a Senate seat this year. 

“Secretary Sebelius is continuing her important work at H.H.S. and is not considering a run for the Senate,” her spokesperson told the New York Times on Thursday. Sebelius has said she would stay on at the department until her replacement is confirmed. Obama nominated Office of Management and Budget chief Sylvia Burwell to take over for Sebelius last week.

Some Democrats wanted Sebelius, who was governor of Kansas, to run for Senate. But critics of the move said her candidacy would nationalize Obamacare — and the disastrous rollout that may have led to her resignation — and hurt Democrats across the board this year.