Legislative Primaries: Let the Filing Begin

The governor's race wasn't the only one heating up as filing opened on Dec. 3 for the March primaries. Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, was among the very first lawmakers in the state to submit her paperwork, filing just after 8am on the first day. She was followed on Monday by East Austin Democrat Rep. Dawnna Dukes, while Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, deflated hopes of a statewide run (and headed off a potentially ugly primary war of succession) by refiling for his current seat.

On the Republican side, so far only two wannabe House members have filed in Austin: Both former Real Estate Council of Austin Chair Paul Workman and corporate attorney Holly White Turner want a shot at Democrat Rep. Valinda Bolton in House District 47.

With Travis County filings so slow, it seems that all the excitement has been reserved for the Williamson County Republicans: Businessman Ben Bius filed to challenge Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, who had previously said he was retiring, then changed his mind. Meanwhile, three GOPers (surgeon Charles Schwertner, former comptroller's office employee Patsy Williams, and former Cedar Park Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Thomas) have filed to replace Ogden's one-time successor, Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown, who is leaving politics.