Lege Races Yield Weak Brew

The predicted tsunami of anti-incumbent feeling sweeping away established names turned out to be more of a drip in the March 2 primaries for the Legislature. Tea party activists, often backed by well-funded think tanks like Empower Texans, targeted insufficiently conservative Republicans like House Elections Committee Chair Todd Smith, R-Euless, and even Senate Finance Committee Chair Steve Ogden, R-Bryan – but to little effect. With no Republican incumbents in Travis County, it was simply a battle to scrabble out of the primary. IT professional Patrick McGuinness dominated firefighter Ryan Lambert 60% to 40% for the right to challenge Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, in House District 50. There was no such certainty in HD 47, Democratic Rep. Valinda Bolton's seat. Attorney Holly Turner and construction investor Paul Workman will return April 13 for a run-off after scoring 36% and 39% respectively in their three-way race with David Sewell.