DMN: Primaries Will Shape Texas Politics

In years without a presidential race, one or two big state contests usually dominate party primaries in Texas. The headline-grabbers may involve a shootout for governor (recall Tony Sanchez and Dan Morales, 2002 Democratic primary) or attorney general (recall John Cornyn/Tom Pauken/Barry Williamson, 1998 GOP primary).

This primary season, the must-watch elections were spread out across the Texas House. These races don't often hit the front pages, but this year they were anything but sideshows. That's because they gave Republican voters their first referendum on GOP leadership since the Republican-run Legislature failed last year to solve the state's school funding crisis.

Republicans in Arlington, Fort Worth, Amarillo, Lubbock, New Braunfels, Nacogdoches, Longview, Denton County and several other places cast ballots yesterday in races that pitted moderates in the GOP against their more conservative members. Some moderates were incumbents, like Reps. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth and Carter Casteel of New Braunfels. Others were challengers, like Diane Patrick of Arlington and Anette Carlisle of Amarillo.

Each race involved the direction the GOP should take. The centrists had voted for, or campaigned on behalf of, a different schools solution from the one offered in the House under GOP Speaker Tom Craddick. The outcomes of these races will affect how the House deals with the school problem in a special session later this spring.

And the results will influence Texas politics beyond this spring. If Mr. Craddick finds himself surrounded by emboldened moderate Republicans, he will have to deal with them on issues like the budget in next year's regular session.

Of course, as we get final word on winners and losers, yesterday's primary also could strengthen Mr. Craddick's grip on the House, allowing him to easily press through his agenda on school funding and other issues.

Yesterday's House races, therefore, were the headline act of the primaries. Along with the outcome of this fall's gubernatorial race, they will shape Texas politics for the next year.Find complete statewide results county by county and in a searchable database.


This opinion piece is from the Dallas Morning News.