The Next Speaker of the House - Rep. Joe Straus

Well, okay, okay, it's technically not over. Speaker Tom Craddick has withdrawn but the respected and able Rep. John Smithee is still in the race. But in my opinion, his entry is late. Rep. Straus has released 88 names, and his pledge list is growing (92 of 150 House members). From my perspective, the white smoke has left the Sistine Chapel.

Moments from now I will proceed down to Rep. Straus' press conference in the Capitol rotunda. That should put to rest (for a vast majority of the members) this race for the speaker position of the Texas House.

Here is the last list issued by Rep. Straus:

Democrats: Alma Allen, Roberto Alonzo, Carol Alvarado, Rafael Anchia, Valinda Bolton, Lon Burnam, Joaquin Castro, Norma Chavez, Ellen Cohen, Garnet Coleman, Yvonne Davis, Joe Deshotel, Dawnna Dukes, Jim Dunnam, Craig Eiland, Kirk England, Joe Farias, David Farabee, Jessica Farrar, Kino Flores, Stephen Frost, Pete Gallego, Helen Giddings, Veronica Gonzalez, Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, Ryan Guillen, Roland Gutierrez, Joe Heflin, Ana Hernandez, Abel Herrero, Scott Hochberg, Terri Hodge, Mark Homer, Chuck Hopson, Donna Howard, Carol Kent, Tracy King, David Leibowitz, Eddie Lucio, Diana Maldonado, Barbara Mallory Caraway, Marisa Marquez, Armando Martinez, Trey Martinez Fischer, Ruth Jones McClendon, Jim McReynolds, Jose Menendez, Robert Miklos, Joe Moody, Elliott Naishtat, Rene Oliveira, Dora Olivo, Solomon Ortiz, Aaron Peña, Joe Pickett, Paula Pierson, Chente Quintanilla, Richard Raymond, Tara Rios Ybarra, Allan Ritter, Eddie Rodriguez, Patrick Rose, Mark Strama, Kristi Thibaut, Senfronia Thompson, Chris Turner, Sylvester Turner, Allen Vaught, Marc Veasey, Mike Villarreal, Hubert Vo, Armando Walle.

Republicans: Dan Branch, Angie Chen Button, Byron Cook, Rob Eissler, Gary Elkins, Charlie Geren, Delwin Jones, Jim Keffer, Edmund Kuempel, Brian McCall, Tommy Merritt, Doug Miller, Jim Pitts, Burt Solomons, Todd Smith, Joe Straus.

UPDATE: Five more names brings the list to 94:

Joe Driver of Garland, Al Edwards of Houston, Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton of Mauriceville, Patricia Harless of Spring, and Wayne Smith of Baytown.

UPDATE: Elise Hu, who has done a great job reporting the Speaker's race, has a slide show of photos from today's press conference.

UPDATE: We are now at 98. State Rep. Rob Orr, Joe Driver, Wayne Smith, John Davis and Harvey Hildebran have pledged to Straus.