Agriculture Commissioner: Gilbert has solid lead on Friedman

With nearly half of precincts reporting, Hank Gilbert has maintained a substantial lead over Kinky Friedman in the race for Commissioner of Agriculture.

Barring big reversal in the remaining votes, Gilbert appears to have the election in hand. Friedman and Gilbert, perhaps not surprisingly, have put on one of the more entertaining campaigns this season. Both are outsiders, one a rancher, the other … well, he's Kinky, the humorist/musician/politician.

Gilbert and Friedman were both running for governor in the long-gone days before Bill White entered and dominated the race. Since switching to the Agriculture Commissioner race, Gilbert has emphasized wonky expertise and hands-on experience, while Friedman continues the parade of punch lines, including his one-liner “No cow left behind!”