Following this week's filing deadline, we're beginning to see how the Texas primaries are shaping up, just three months from now.
The race for governor is gaining more attention with at least two high-profile Democrats now in the race. However, Dr. Mark Jones, fellow in political science at Rice University's Baker Institute, is eyeing former land commissioner Jerry Patterson's attempt to regain the office now held by George P. Bush.
“I think the advantage Jerry Patterson has is there are a lot more people who look and think like him who vote in the Republican primary than those who look and think like George P. Bush,” says Jones.
Here in Houston, state Rep. Sarah Davis looks vulnerable with Gov. Greg Abbott endorsing her Republican challenger.
“Davis is a fiscally conservative but socially moderate Republican, that is District 134,” he says. “It's not clear if her supporters will turn out in the same numbers as the Tea Party supporters of Susanna Dokupil in the March primary.”
Four Democrats also are vying for Republican John Culberson's congressional seat.
“People like Alex Triantaphyllis, Lizzie Fletcher, Laura Moser and Jason Westin are all raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to compete in what's going to be a barn-burner of a Democratic primary to determine which two will move forward to the May runoff,” says Jones.