Former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle was expected to file for some statewide race, though precisely which one has been something of a mystery. Governor and attorney general have both been tossed around as possibilities. Now, we know — he wants to be the next lieutenant governor.
Earle filed with the Texas Democratic Party late Friday evening. So far, he is the only lite gov candidate to do so .
He could face a formidable primary opponent in Linda Chavez-Thompson, a former executive vice president of the AFL-CIO. She is reportedly mulling a bid for the same position. Marc Katz — owner of Katz’s Deli in Austin — also plans to run.
On the Republican side, incumbent Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has filed for re-election.
Earle, who served as Travis County DA from from 1976 until his retirement at the end of 2008, made national headlines in 2005 when he filed campaign finance fraud charges against U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
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