Eyewitness News spoke with Rosenthal, who confirms he is mulling getting back on the ballot as a Republican for district attorney. This comes just hours after a prominent district attorney threw her name into the ring.
Once she signed the paperwork Thursday, there was no turning back. Veteran prosecutor Kelly Siegler became a politician, running for her boss' job as Harris County district attorney.
"They want someone they know who is tough and who is fair and who won't give up, someone like me and my friends, who in every single case that we prosecute, we try our hardest to do the right thing," she said Thursday.
Siegler didn't decide to run until Rosenthal removed his name Wednesday night, ending a week of turmoil for the Harris County Republican party, who admit that Rosenthal's email controversy was going to be a big problem for the party.
"We dealt with the hand we were given," said Harris County Republican Chairman Jared Woodfilll. "We had to act and we had to act quickly. We had to act decidedly and I think we did."
Even though Rosenthal is now off the ballot, our political consultant says the roller coaster the Republican party is going through could hurt it in the November election.
"This is not good," said Eyewitness News political analyst Richard Murray. "Normally, Republicans get their business done pretty efficiently and have been very successful against Democrats in Decmeber, but this could be a very tough year."
For Seigler and her supporters, they aren't focusing on November. With other potential challengers yet to file, she's concentrating on the March primary and becoming a politician.
"Those of you who know me and all of these behind me know that I am not a politician," she said. "This is a very new experience. It's not very fun so far."
Siegler said on Thursday that she wouldn't run if her boss was running, but we spoke with her consultant. He says he doesn't expect Rosenthal to jump back in, despite the fact that Rosenthal says he's thinking about it.
