Who did Travis County Rep. Paul Workman annoy? (Democrats, don't answer that.) Seems that one of the House Republicans' inner circle has decided that the one-term GOPer needs to go. Ryan Downton, the man that helped draw the latest House maps, is going after Workman's House District 47 seat in next Spring's primary.

At first flush, there's little difference between the two. Both are from the same cut-government, anti-Obamacare, secure-the-border, anti-reproductive-rights brand of contemporary conservatism. So it could get interesting when the money and endorsements start rolling in, as they could be the big indicator of any real differences between the two. However, Downton has already called Workman the "liberal incumbent" (to gales of laughter), while Workman's campaign has noted that Downton served as general counsel to Travis County Democrat Rep. Mark Strama's short-lived House Technology, Economic Development & Workforce Committee.

Downton may face a rough time on the campaign trail. Workman hired GOP tough guy and Perry campaign veteran Eric Bearse to fight off Holly White Turner in the 2010 primaries, accusing her from the start of being a Cowtown carpet bagger. Then there was the famous and highly bizarre Valinda Bolton/Obama Photoshop episode.

However, the challenger is getting his own body blows in early. He told the Austin American Statesman that he was annoyed at Workman for not pushing hard enough for a second Republican district in Travis County.

To coin a phrase, wait, what? Weren't you the Redistricting Committee general counsel? Yup, let's all let that sink in for a moment.

Referring to the 2011 House and Congressional maps as a potential gerrymander is a little redundant now that the courts have stepped in. So the week before Downton made his announcement, he was already being name-checked by Democrats in San Antonio because he served as House Redistricting Committee counsel during the gerrymandering process. As reported by Michael King this week, Democrats are already using Downton's own testimony that Rep. Aaron Pena, R-Edinburg, had his new seat drawn around him, to demand that Pena step down.

The maps that Downton helped design are caught up in courts in both DC and San Antonio, and the Department of Justice has already highlighted the districts that really concern it. Fortunately for Downton, HD 47 is not on that list. However, Congressional Districts 23 (West Texas and the Panhandle) and 27 (central Gulf of Mexico) are under their spotlight, as are House Districts 33 (Collin and Rockwall), 35 (South Texas), 41 (Hidalgo), 117 (San Antonio) and 149 (Williamson.) That means 149 – which sits directly north of HD47 – could still cause him some headaches.

There's an old joke about chutzpah. A man walks into court, accused of murdering his mother and father. He throws himself on the mercy of the court, crying, "Your honor, I'm an orphan." If these maps end up in a higher court, then Downton could end up defending district lines while he's fighting to run in one.