Farm Team Identified for the Texas GOP

The Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call this week published a handy compendium of Texas GOP politicians thinking about the next election (or two) and where they might choose to run.

The in-depth piece by Abby Livingston focuses at the top on a U.S. Senate seat that could come open should Ted Cruz decide to cut short his legislating career. Initial speculation there, she wrote, is that George P. Bush, recently nominated for land commissioner, would be the front-runner. Also in the mix would be lite guv candidate Dan Patrick, a trio of congressmen — Michael McCaul, Jeb Hensarling and Louie Gohmert — as well as some current candidates for statewide office — Ken Paxton and Glenn Hegar.

Illuminating is this observation of Patrick: "Beyond Bush, who is currently running for state land commissioner, state Sen. Dan Patrick, a lieutenant governor candidate, is expected to be a dominating force in Texas politics. He could run for Senate someday, but some operatives envision him as the Republican equivalent of legendary Democratic Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock."

Also of note is Livingston's reporting that national Republicans have their eye on Veronica Edwards as a future candidate for the swing CD-23. Edwards is the founder and CEO of InGenesis, a medical staffing business. Focus on her would signal Republicans are looking for another Hispanic candidate (and a woman, to boot) to run in a district drawn to be a minority opportunity district.

Sure to provoke discussion, too, is the roundup of names at the state legislative level who are being bandied about for congressional runs. Those include James White, Van Taylor, Scott Turner, Konni Burton, Matt Krause, Jason Villalba, Charles Perry, Lyle Larson, Jason Isaac, Larry Gonzales, Tony Dale, Mike Schofield and Matt Rinaldi.

If this list feels Republican heavy, no need to worry, because Roll Call promises a similar roundup soon on Texas Democrats.