Campaign Chatter

Texans for Lawsuit Reform hasn't officially picked a candidate in the race between state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, and Elizabeth Ames Jones, the Texas Railroad Commissioner who jumped out of the U.S. Senate race and into Wentworth's primary this week. It will be a surprise if they go with the incumbent, though. Wentworth has locked down a solid list of endorsements, including House Speaker Joe Straus (who succeeded Ames Jones in that House seat), U.S. Reps. Lamar Smith and Francisco "Quico" Canseco, and state Reps. Lyle Larson of San Antonio, Doug Miller of New Braunfels and Paul Workman of Austin, whose districts overlap Wentworth's.

But the TLR folks won't be in that pack unless they change their minds. After listing a number of issues that divided the senator and the tort group, spokeswoman Sherry Sylvester adds this: "Texans for Lawsuit Reform has long believed that SD 25 should be represented by a senator who supports the lawsuit reforms that the people of his district and a wide majority of Texans support."

The other Republican in that race, Donna Campbell of New Braunfels, picked up an endorsement from the Texas Right to Life PAC.

Former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert bolstered his U.S. Senate run with endorsements from a list of mayors he says represent 1.1 million people. The list includes Robert Cluck of Arlington, Joe Adame of Corpus Christi, Mark Burroughs of Denton, Jimmy Thompson of Sugar Land, Brian Loughmiller of McKinney, Bill Glancy of Farmers Branch, John Terrell of Southlake and Joe Cordina of Parker. Ted Cruz, meanwhile, announced a grassroots campaign — he's asking people to join the Cruz Crew. And Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst picked up the endorsement of the Texas Farm Bureau's political action committee, AGFUND.

Bob Craig won't seek another term on the State Board of Education. The Lubbock Republican was first elected in 2002 and served on the Lubbock school board before that. Whoever runs will need gas money; the district includes 75 of the state's 254 counties.

Democrat Neil Burns of The Woodlands is gearing up for a challenge to U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands in CD-8. He's a retired Shell Oil executive.

Ben Bius, who lost a state Senate race last year to Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, will run again. The Huntsville Republican will face state Rep. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, in the Republican primary to replace Ogden, who's not seeking another term.

Craig Goldman will make another run for the Texas House in Fort Worth's HD-97. State Rep. Mark Shelton is giving up that seat to run for the Texas Senate against incumbent Democrat Wendy Davis. Goldman ran for that seat in a special election in 2007 and lost.

Jonathan Stickland announced plans to challenge Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless, in HD-92. He says he's a small business owner, wants to increase the quality of education and won't be asking taxpayers for more money: "Raising taxes is not an option."

Waco businessman and former State Republican Executive Committee member Chris DeCluitt will challenge Rep. Charles "Doc" Anderson, R-Waco, in HD-56, prompting an unusual press release from Anderson. The incumbent announced that he's looking forward to "a lively Republican primary race."

The Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC endorsed Brent Busby in the race for a spot on the state's 14th Court of Appeals. That PAC also endorsed Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, who's seeking reelection.

State Board of Education member George Clayton says he wants to cut short a rumor campaign about his sexual orientation and sent an email to several news organizations about it. "So as to avoid the tyranny of misinformation and innuendo in this political race, I wish to say that I, in fact, do have a male partner who lives with me in my home in Richardson, Texas... All of us can now move on with discussions concerning education instead of being overly occupied with my personal life." Former SBOE member Geraldine "Tincy" Miller is running against him.