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Dems will take Senate seat in Texas
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Your Examiner is not above a bit of soothsaying. In this article, we’ll examine the future of statewide offices in Texas.
AP Photo: Big Bad John, however, is sticking around.
Texas Democrats don’t have a very good record in statewide elections. As a matter of fact, Dems haven’t held a statewide seat in a decade. That's back in the Bob Bullock days, for those who can remember. But with gubernatorial and Senate elections on the way, Texas politics, from the legislature to Congress, are likely to change.
The change will owe itself to convenient timing and the ascent of a couple of soon-to-be heavyweights. While the legislature cobbles together the state’s basic functions (while California makes us look downright responsible), Gov. Perry has won few battles in his second term, capturing national attention for all the wrong reasons, and opening the door for a new face in the not-quite-rebuilt Governor’s Mansion.
Enter Kay Bailey Hutchison, longtime Texas fixture and current US Senator. Her strong, reliably Republican history in the Senate will more than likely carry her to victory, along with her successful fundraising effort and Perry’s carnival sideshow of populist rabblerousing. So far, the race has amounted to Rick running through a few Tea Parties, arms akimbo and gums flapping unfunny jokes about secession, while Kay Bailey quietly shakes her head and smiles at Chris Matthews (via satellite from Washington, of course). If the Democrats wanted a chance at the big chair, they’d have fielded someone – anyone – with moderate statewide credentials by now. They haven’t, and Your Examiner has his doubts whether former Austin mayor Kirk Watson can muster the money and notoriety in time.
That, of course, means that with Kay Bailey resigning from the Senate, the seat will be up for grabs. Previously, it was thought that resigning from the Senate would hurt Hutchinson’s chances by potentially giving up her seat to a Democrat and handing the Dems a filibuster-proof 60-member majority. Fellow Texas Senator John Cornyn knew that, and warned her to stay. With Al Franken finally knocking off Norm Coleman in the World’s Worst Senate Election Ever, that’s no longer an issue.
So, what Democrat could possibly break the Glass Ceiling Gavel and break into the Senate?
Bill White is the current Mayor of Houston. He was re-elected in 2007 with 91% of the vote. He was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award for his handling of Hurricane Katrina evacuees (a 6% increase to the city's population). The fourth largest city in the US, Houston is one of the few cities in the country to weather the Wall Street maelstrom, all while investing in environmental protection, energy innovation, expanding public transportation, and promoting business in typically Texas (and Houston) style.
Mr White made to the mayor’s office running without party affiliation (as is the style in Houston). If he wants to make it as a Democrat, he’ll have to play his cards as a moderate and a businessman.
And he’ll have to make sure he can out maneuver and out-fundraise the Republicans. So far, he’s succeeded, taking in $1.8 million before the March 31st filing deadline, putting at least $2.6 million in his war chest by April. The Republicans’ strongest contender, current Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams raised $181,000. And lucky for Mayor White, a mayor’s executive record is likely to play better with voters, especially those trying to figure out what, exactly, a railroad commissioner does (it’s a lot, and the commission has three members). Even luckier for Mr White, Mr Williams doesn't have much else to offer. So far, he rings like the bow-tied African-American version of every other Republican official around.
In the next six months, look for announcements from both Hutchison and White, as Kay Bailey ditches the Senate for greener pastures, and Bill takes the reigns of the sleepy-eyed Democratic party. If everything falls into place, we’ll see Mr White go to Washington in no time.
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