"This race was an election night squeaker with the final results unknown until the next morning when the Zavala County returns came in."

Correction: It was Zapata County, not Zavala.

...Interesting about Hutchison..

what will the Texas democratic line-up look like in '06.

Will people like Chris Bell, Ken Bentson, Ron Kirk be running for statewide office?

Eduardo - Thanks for the correction.

TC-TX-Dem - Not sure about Ron Kirk. I think that Jim Turner ought to be on any list of 2006 candidates (most likely governor). I'd also bet that someone like Max Sandlin or Chet Edwards (if either or both lose re-election) would make a good Senate candidate. Ed Garza (San Antonio mayor) is also mentioned frequently as a future statewide candidate. State Rep. Richard Raymond ran statewide in 1998, and he might run again, but I doubt that he'd give up his seat to run an uphill battle.

All - sorry about the all italics here for a few hours there. I was having some trouble amending my post to include the George Strong bit at the end. It all worked out eventually.

I'd agree with Byron. I don't expect Chris Bell to run statewide. I think one name Byron left out was 1998 Comptroller candidate Paul Hobby. He's only like 42 and I think he wants a shot at Governor or Lt. Governor. He lost to Carole Keeton-McClellan-Rylander-Strayhorn 50.4-49.6

If KBH does beat Perry, Dewhurst may change his mind and run for her Senate seat. 2006 is still such a long time from now. I think Turner, Hobby, Stenholm for AG Commish (if he loses his seat in 2004), will all be on the ticket.

I don't think Ron Kirk will run. He wants to make a bunch of money right now.