Transportation chief mentioned as possible NC Senate candidate

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is being mentioned as a possible Senate candidate in his native North Carolina, the Charlotte Observer reports. 

Democrats in the Tar Heel State have suggested that Foxx might be an option for a challenger to incumbent Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) after former Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) opted to pass on the race this week, according to the report. 

Hagan was defeated in a bid for reelection last year by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), but national Democrats were hoping she would return for a campaign against Burr in 2016, which they assume will be more favorable because it is also a presidential election year. 

{mosads}Foxx has said previously that he is not interested in running for the Senate after he leaves office, but the paper said Democrats may try to recruit him anyway due to his ability to raise money for a potential race and his ties to President Obama, who tapped him to lead the Transportation Department in 2013. 

Prior to taking the helm of the DOT, Foxx was mayor of Charlotte, which is North Carolina’s largest city. 

Other potential Democratic candidates who were mentioned by the paper include North Carolina state Treasurer Janet Cowell, University of North Carolina system President Tom Ross and state Sens. Dan Blue and Josh Stein.