County to serve in that position in more than forty years. When both Governor Rick Perry and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst were out of the state on official business on April 9, 2005, Shapiro served as the Governor for a day, the sixth woman in Texas history to do so. U.S. Senate campaign speculation Due to her friendship with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, it was widely speculated that Shapiro would run for Hutchison's seat upon her resignation for her own gubernatorial run against Rick Perry. On July 15, 2008, Shapiro announced the formation of an exploratory committee for U.S. Senate, the first candidate to do so. It was chaired by former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach. Since the formation of the committee, Shapiro began heavy fundraising, both in Texas and out-of-state, and by the end of 2008, had raised more money than any other declared candidate, to date the highest of any declared Republican. Shapiro raised $226,000 in the fourth quarter of 2008 and ended the year with $373,556 in the bank. Early polls indicated Shapiro defeating former Texas State Comptroller John Sharp, but trailing current Houston mayor Bill White in head-to-head matchups. However, in January 2011, she decided against continuing a campaign for United States Senate. Saying that she is "committed to serving in the Texas State Senate now and in the future." Retirement from Texas Senate In September 2011, Shapiro announced that she would not be a candidate for reelection. Republican former State Representative Tony Goolsby indicated that he would seek to succeed Shapiro, as did the military officer Scott O'Grady, but neither ran for the seat. Shapiro was instead succeeded in the Senate by fellow Republican Ken Paxton. Election history 2006 2002 2000 1996 1994 1992 References External links Committees Official Facebook Page Follow the Money - Florence Shapiro 2006 2004 2002 2000 campaign contributions 1948 births Living people American marketing people Jewish mayors of places in the United States Jewish women politicians Marketing women Mayors of Plano, Texas People from Plano, Texas Presidents pro tempore of the Texas Senate Republican Party Texas state senators University of Texas at Austin College of Education alumni Women mayors of places in Texas Women state legislators in Texas 21st-century American politicians 21st-century American women politicians Jewish American state legislators in Texas 21st-century American Jews