Someone want to remind the Democrats that there’s an election next year? Filing for the 2018 primaries opens on Nov. 14, so it would be reasonable to expect buzz about at least a few names for the major statewide offices on the ballot. Yet so far there’s no one even talking about taking on Gov. Greg Abbott. Moreover, former San Antonio mayor and HUD secretary (and Hillary Clinton running mate short-lister) Julian Castro crushed any popular hopes that he would get in the ring by recently forming the Opportunity First PAC, hinting at a presidential run in 2020. (His identical twin brother Joaquin is presumably far too busy and comfortable in Congress.) Elsewhere on the ballot, the list looks equally anemic, with no Democratic candidates stepping up for (deep breath) attorney general, Comptrol­ler of Public Accounts, or Commissioner of the General Land Office, all of which are up for re-election.

It’s not all grim news. Former Texas Demo­cratic Party finance chair Mike Collier is already stumping against Lt. Gov. Dan Pat­rick, while onetime Weatherford ISD trustee and retired Air Force colonel Kim Olson is going after Agriculture Commis­sioner (and walking Texas caricature) Sid Miller. Filling out the slate is Roman McAllen, historic preservation officer for Denton and a self-described “Independent Democrat,” who wants to unseat Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick.

Looking forward, Republican incumbents appear almost as likely to face an internal primary challenger as a Democratic threat. Licensed surveyor Davey Edwards has already said he will challenge Land Commis­sioner George P. Bush. (Edwards has never held elected office before, but then again, neither had Bush before he slid into the gig on the family name.) Then there’s the mysterious future of Republican U.S. Con­gress­man Mike McCaul, who holds one of the heavily gerrymandered GOP-friendly seats, some of which somehow covers Austin. He’d been mooted as a potential cabinet member in the Trump administration, but has consistently tried to put clear water between himself and POTUS’s more controversial measures, particularly the travel ban. McCaul has long been rumored to be considering a new office, and speculation has been that he’s considering the Texas attorney generalship, currently held by Ken Paxton. The question there is whether McCaul is looking at a primary challenge or just waiting for the verdict in Paxton’s looming trial for securities fraud, scheduled for Dec. 11.

Team 2018: Is Anybody Out There?

A version of this article appeared in print on Aug 18, 2017 with the headline: Team 2018: Is Anybody Out There?

This article appears in August 18 • 2017.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.