NationalJournal.com
Texas Tea Party challengers find traction?
With the TX GOV race spiking voter turnout in todays TX primary cash and name ID will play an even bigger role in House primaries. All of the House primary action is on the GOP side today including in races against the partys top two TX targets: Chet Edwards (D-17) and Ciro Rodriguez (D-23).
In TX-17 most GOPers expect businessman Bill Flores (R) to top the five-candidate field but not to reach the 50 necessary to avoid a runoff. 08 nominee Rob Curnock (R) hasnt raised much money (like 08) and because of that Flores (who has added $350K of his own cash to his bid) is the partys best hope.
In TX-23 08 candidate/banker Quico Canseco (R) looks like the fav over ex-CIA agent Will Hurd (R).
Canseco spent large amounts of his own cash in 08 but is not self-funding this time. Still while the underfunded Hurd has impressed some with his skills Canseco should be able to ride his name ID over the 50 line.
Finally several incumbents will face Tea Party challenges including Kay Granger (R-12) Mike Conaway (R-11) and Lamar Smith (R-21).
And Dems hyped Pete Sessions (R-32) Tea Party challenger early on but he didnt raise enough to file an FEC report.
With all of these incumbents outspending their Tea party challengers by at least 6-1 these races shouldnt be close. But they will be good test cases for GOP races across the country since most Tea Partiers will be underfunded.
If any TX Tea Party challenger finds traction it may be a long primary cycle for GOPers.
