It’s money versus geography and name ID in the race between the two top finishers in the five-way GOP primary in this conservative-leaning congressional district. The winner will face U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco.
Republican Party Of Texas
The Runoffs: HD-127
Primary night was humming along swimmingly for Humble school board president Dan Huberty, and after the early vote he seemed headed to victory. Then the numbers dipped and his fortunes changed, and now he’s in a heated GOP run-off with Dr. Susan Curling. As another Election Day draws closer, the contest is getting personal.
Redistricting Reality
In 2011, political mapmakers will take the latest census numbers (Texas is expected to have a population of more than 25 million) and use them to draw new congressional and legislative districts. The last time this was done, in 2003, Republican mappers took control of the U.S. House by peeling away seats from the Democrats. This time, Texas is poised to add up to four seats to its congressional delegation โ and early numbers indicate bad news ahead for West Texas and other areas that haven’t kept up with the state’s phenomenal growth.
The Runoffs: SBOE District 10
One candidate touts her education policy expertise; the other, his conservative political credentials. This race for retiring incumbent Cynthia Dunbar’s seat on the State Board of Education may come down to campaign money vs. Christian grassroots muscle.
The Runoffs: HD-47
Republicans in southwest Travis County still need to choose between Paul Workman and Holly Turner before setting their sights on State Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, in November. Ben Philpott, covering the 2010 elections for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this report.
The SBOE vs. Itself
When no one was paying attention to the State Board of Education, the theory goes, the reelection of incumbents was virtually assured, just as it is in any down-ballot races. Now that its controversial doings are the stuff of national headlines, change is in the air. Or is it?
The Elefante in the Room
Railroad Commission Chairman Victor Carrillo, a seven-year incumbent with a background in the industry he regulates, got trounced in the GOP primary on Tuesday by an unknown, David Porter, who spent little money on the race. He’s not the only one who thinks his Hispanic surname cost him his job.
Carrillo: Hispanic Surname Caused Election Loss
“Early polling showed that the typical GOP primary voter has very little info about the position of Railroad Commissioner, what we do, or who my opponent or I were. Given the choice between โPorterโ and โCarrilloโ โ unfortunately, the Hispanic-surname was a serious setback from which I could never recover.”
HD-52: Gonzales, Gordon Appear Headed to Runoff
Gonzales and Gordon appear to be in a dogfight, and may face a runoff. The winner will take on freshman incumbent Diana Maldonado, D-Round Rock.
HD-102: With Most Precincts In, Carter Way Ahead
Former Collin County prosecutor Stefani Carter appears to have handily defeated Geoffrey Bailey, a consultant to T. Boone Pickens, in the District 102 Republican primary. With 92 percent of precincts in, she has 75 percent of the vote. It looks like she’ll be running against incumbent Democratic Rep. Carol Kent in the general election.

