It may seem like a long time until the 2010 elections, but primaries are coming up in March for all members of the Texas House of Representatives and half the senators. Since district lines are usually drawn carefully to benefit incumbents, it is rare for legislators to lose their positions by being defeated. Most turnover is of the "voluntary" variety. Sen. Steve Ogden (R-Bryan), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, is stepping down, for instance.
However, there are a handful of interesting races taking shape in the primaries, where turnout is low and just a few votes can make a difference. It's certainly worth noticing if you live in one of these competitive districts.
It is important to keep in mind that a primary is in the domain of a political party—an instrument for choosing nominees to be on the ballot in the General Election. The Democrats and Republicans will conduct the March elections separately, sometimes in different locations. In some districts, the subsequent election in November is almost a formality. Hence the primary becomes the "real" election, and worthy of our attention.
The Texas Tribune has an interesting article on some of the races that could prove competitive. Here's the link.
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