Democrat Karen Huber, Travis County Precinct 3 candidate

Western Travis County will have a touch of déjà vu this Election Day when it comes to picking its commissioner. Democratic incumbent Karen Huber is up against Republican Gerald Daugherty – the same man she unseated four years ago.

Republican Gerald Daugherty, Travis County Precinct 3 candidate

Precinct 3 is Travis County’s lone GOP-leaning precinct, and – like most areas of the county – growth and traffic concerns rise to the top of issues. Daugherty wants to build Texas 45 Southwest, which has become the biggest political item of this race. The proposed stretch is a long-discussed toll road to connect the southern end of MoPac Boulevard to Hays County and bypass traffic on the heavily congested Brodie Lane.

Huber has said this is her opponent’s only real issue and that the highway should not be built immediately – instead suggesting more studies of its effectiveness. Daugherty has suggested Huber is the main reason for the road’s delay.

Daugherty has said local support is the first step to construction, though the winner would have just one vote among 19 on the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization board. The road would still have to become part of the group’s 25-year plan before it becomes a reality.

Rep. Paul Workman, R-Austin

Republican Paul Workman hopes voters in Texas House District 47 give him a second term on Tuesday. When he first ran for the seat in 2010, it stretched along Travis County’s southern edge, but redistricting has now expanded its size to fill up nearly the entire western half of the county – a very suburban section.

Republicans redrew HD 47 to secure most available GOP precincts in Travis County, which has historically leaned left. While this might be to the advantage of Workman – a construction businessman – some members of his own party have criticized the move, as it could make gaining another Republican seat in the area nearly impossible in the future.

Democratic HD 47 candidate Chris Frandsen

Still, his Democratic challenger, Chris Frandsen, is fighting hard, even if it is an uphill fight. The military vet once owned a teacher supply store, worked as an education account manager for Apple, and has two daughters who have taught in the Austin ISD. He feels this school background will come in handy in the upcoming session, as education funding will no doubt play a critical role.

Libertarian Nick Tanner is also running and has proposed using money from the Texas Lottery Commission to fund education. Both Tanner and Frandsen have criticized the $5.4 billion legislative cuts to education and their opponent’s role in that move.

Workman defended his part in a recent forum with “We have to learn to live with less,” referring to the significant shortfall lawmakers face when they entered last session.

Democratic HD 136 candidate Matt Stillwell

Redistricting gave Central Texas a new player in the state House next legislative session. HD 136 was once down in Harris County, but it now pops up as a seat in southern Williamson County. It was created to in an effort for Republicans to secure yet another place in the lower chamber, but the Democrat in this race could have an advantage. If there’s any place in Williamson County leaning left, it could be here.

Austin spills into the GOP-heavy county. The new district – made up of portions of two previous Republican seats – contains that area, plus other communities like Cedar Park, Leander and Brushy Creek.

Republican HD 136 candidate Tony Dale

Democrat Matt Stillwell faces Cedar Park Council Member Tony Dale – a Tea Party Republican. A Libertarian in the race – software developer Matt Whittington – could split the Republican vote, another possible advantage for Stillwell.

Schools are one of the greatest issues in this race, as two large districts there – Round Rock and Leander – have both dealt with class size issues and budget concerns. But tremendous growth and traffic problems could also rule this competition, as the area around two surrounding toll roads – 183 and 45 – has exploded in recent years.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz

The U.S. Senate race in Texas this election season has been a turbulent one. Both major parties had runoffs. The Republicans ended up with former solicitor general Ted Cruz, who beat out Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Democrats chose former state Rep. Paul Sadler.

In a recent ad, Sadler – a lawyer from Henderson – has labeled his opponent – a tea party favorite – as “the most extreme Senate candidate in Texas history.”

Cruz has seen a nationwide boost from a host of conservative groups. His fundraising far surpasses Sadler’s – giving him a definite edge on television sets across Texas. One of his latest ads features his father, who fled fighting and capture in Cuba.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Paul Sadler

Cruz’s campaign has waged war on President Barack Obama’s administration. Sadler has been most prominent as a fiery debater, challenging Cruz to six such events – Cruz agreed to two.

The winner of this race might help shape the face of the Senate, as Cruz could be expected to back Texas’ other Senator – John Cornyn – in a run for the party’s second highest leadership post – majority whip. Cruz has yet to indicate his support publicly.

This Senate seat is being vacated by Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison. Libertarian John Jay Myers – a Dallas businessman – and the Green Party’s David Collins – a Houston activist – are also running.

Ted Cruz shakes hands with David Dewhurst at a debate in Dallas. (AP photo)

U.S. Senate – Republican

The last hours before Tuesday’s runoff have, no doubt, been tough for Lt. David Dewhurst’s campaign. A Politico article all but declared Republican rival Ted Cruz the party’s nominee for U.S. Senate, followed by a new survey from Public Policy Polling showing Cruz leading 52-42.

That same poll showed just how far Gov. Rick Perry – one of Dewhurst’s biggest supporters in the primary – has fallen in public opinion since his failed presidential bid. Thirty-five percent of respondents said that endorsement would make them less likely to vote for Dewhurst.

A big name on Cruz’s endorsement list is Sarah Palin. The poll showed 31 percent of voters were more likely to support a candidate if she endorsed him.

Still, runoff elections are often unpredictable. While Cruz has the momentum in this ultra-conservative race, an internal poll from Dewhurst’s campaign shows the lieutenant governor up by five percent – 48-43.

U.S. Senate – Democrat

Former Texas House member Paul Sadler was up against three opponents in the May primary. The man who he ended up facing in the runoff is someone who really made no effort to put together a statewide campaign – Grady Yarbrough, a 75-year-old retired educator.

In a state dominated by Republican politics (they hold every statewide office), the ballot count will be telling in just how many Democrats hope their efforts will lead to a victory in November.

However, with Texas’ growing Hispanic population, some politicos have predicted a shift in Texas politics. But don’t count on it anytime soon.

Texas Senate District 25 – Republican

GOP candidates have been campaigning hard in the last few weeks across this newly redrawn, X-shaped district running from South Austin to North San Antonio, and from Seguin to Boern.

State Sen. Jeff Wentworth faces a challenge from emergency-room physician Donna Campbell. Wentworth has held this seat for almost 20 years, while Campbell recently relocated to New Braunfels to live within the district’s boundaries.

The primary for this position was one of the most brutal in the state. Before May’s Election Day, Wentworth and former Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones were involved heavily in a TV ad war, even a lawsuit.

To the surprise of many, Jones came in third, leaving Campbell to compete in the dead-of-summer runoff – a time when garnering votes is perhaps its most challenging.

Railroad Commission, Place 1 – Republican

Two of three seats on the state’s major regulator of the oil and gas industry are up for the taking. Environmental regulations and tech upgrades have risen to the top of issues in the Railroad Commission race, thus far.

Gov. Rick Perry appointed Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman to a seat vacated when Michael Williams left to run for Congress. Now, Smitherman faces Greg Parker, a Comal County commissioner

Railroad Commission, Place 2 – Republican

If you follow Texas politics, the two people squaring off for another seat on the Railroad Commission should be familiar. Christi Craddick is the daughter of former House Speaker Tom Craddick. She led the primary, followed by longtime state Rep. Warren Chisum.

Craddick, a lawyer, has suggested Chisum’s energy background could be a conflict of interest for the agency. Chisum has been critical of a $300,000 contribution from Tom Craddick to his daughter’s campaign.

Travis County Constable, Precinct 2 – Democrat

One of the nastiest races in Central Texas has strangely played out like a statewide campaign. Travis County Constable Adan Ballesteros faces Michael Cargill in this North Austin rivalry.

A constable is responsible for serving misdemeanor warrants and tasked with a handful of other local civil and criminal duties. However, this battle has largely distracted voters from those items.

So far, the candidates have accused each other of aiding in cocaine trafficking and criminal theft. They have also pointed out previous arrests and plastered negative signs throughout the city.

Texas Supreme Court, Place 4 – Republican

Justice David Medina has a strong challenger in John Devine, a former district judge and congressional candidate. To make matters more difficult for the incumbent, Medina also has a string of recent legal troubles weighing him down ahead of the runoff – including a drunk driving charge (ended in a hung jury) and indictments (eventually dismissed) stemming from a fire at his home in Houston.

Still, a State Bar preference poll showed Texas lawyers would still choose Medina over his opponent. Devine has his own history of arrests at anti-abortion rallies, not to mention he was a judge who pushed placing an image of the Ten Commandments in the courtroom.

The winner of this race will automatically take office in January, since no Democrat filed.

State Board of Education, District 10 – Republican

Two educators face off in this race, both expected to be a good fit for the position in a tough financial time for schools statewide.

Rebecca Osborne is a teacher at McNeil High School in the Round Rock Independent School District. Tom Maynard is a former teacher and member of the Florence school board.

David Dewhurst (Texas Senate)

A tight Republican race for U.S. Senate has the top three candidates watching the polls closely, as politicos begin predicting a July 31^st runoff. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst – a veteran politician – leads the race, followed closely by a rising star among conservative – former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz.

Not to be counted out is former Dallas mayor and businessman Tom Lepert. In this GOP-dominated state, the winner of this primary is considered a shoo-in to take over for retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in Washington.

Ted Cruz (Hispanic Republicans of Texas)

Dewhurst has, by far, the most money to spend, already reportedly going through $9.2 million of his vast personal fortune. He is also, according to some polls, on the edge of the necessary 50 percent to win this race. He also has the support of Gov. Rick Perry and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

But Cruz has been able to rely on big, conservative endorsements like former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, not to mention a string of tea party groups.

Tom Leppert (Leppert Campaign)

As the top three candidates all have similar views on policy like abortion, amnesty and taxes, their campaigns have turned to ads attacking their personalities instead.

Other noteworthy names in the Republican race are former pro-football player Craig James and Magnolia funeral director Glenn Addison. Whoever wins will face one of two Democrats – former state Rep. Paul Sadler or Sean Hubbard – though no Democrat has won a statewide office since 1994.

Lloyd Doggett (U.S. House)

Longtime Congressman Lloyd Doggett is facing one of the fiercest competitions of his career, thanks to recent redistricting. The Democrat is now running in Congressional District 35, which stretches from East Austin to San Antonio.

The southern edge of the district has a heavy Latino voting base, which could be an advantage for his opponent – Bexar County Tax Assessor Sylvia Romo.

Doggett has outraised Romo and has millions at his campaign’s disposal. But in the new, majority Hispanic district, Romo is well-known as someone in public service in Bexar County for 20 years.

“This district is predominantly Latino,” Romo told KXAN, “and I believe that the men and women of this district want a member of Congress who understands their needs and their concerns, not another millionaire who is more concerned about being re-elected and fighting with other politicians to boost his own name recognition.”

Sylvia Romo (Romo Campaign)

But Doggett is drawing supporters in the south part of the district, as he has spent much of his time there. He has also garnered more associations’ endorsements throughout the district, including the Texas State Teachers Associations, Austin Firefighters Association, San Antonio Police Officers Association and several Tejano groups.

“ Like every group endorsing in this race,” Doggett told KXAN, “from Tejano Democrats to Firefighters, Raul (referencing Raul Rosa, a Hispanic voter who block-walked for Doggett in Austin) knows my heart and my commitment to stand up to Rick Perry and extremist Republican policies.”

Still, Romo has gained the support of most Democratic elected officials in San Antonio. But she has not put out any television ads – something that might hurt her.

John Bradley (Bradley Campaign)

A name you won’t find on the ballot in Williamson County is Michael Morton. Still, he has become a critical campaign point in the GOP race for district attorney.

Accusations about Morton’s wrongful conviction have bounced between incumbent DA John Bradley – who, for five years, opposed DNA testing that eventually freed Morton – and County Attorney Jana Duty. The case is hard to ignore in this tough-on-crime county.

Duty has focused her campaign on Morton’s story, casting her opponent as someone who covered for his boss to maintain his own climbing career.

Jana Duty (Duty Campaign)

Bradley has fought back, defending himself and pointing out that Duty had a hand in the Morton case, too – that she is using the story to gain political traction.

Morton went to prison for nearly 25 years for the 1986 murder of his wife, Christine Morton. However, last year, he was exonerated after DNA on a bandana near the murder scene revealed a connection to another man – Mark Alan Norwood.

Norwood’s DNA also matched material found at the scene of the 1988 murder of Debra Masters Baker in Austin. Last year, he was arrested and charged with Christine Morton’s death.

Morton’s lawyers have said that, if Bradley had agreed to DNA testing sooner, their client could have gone free sooner and the true murder suspect could have been arrested earlier.

Duty has won the support of people like Caitlin Baker – the daughter of the Austin murder victim – and also Mark Landrum, who served as the jury foreman in Morton’s 1987 trial.

As Bradley points out, Duty did have a role in the Morton case. As part of her duty as county attorney, she successfully defended Bradley and the sheriff when Morton filed a federal lawsuit against them to grant the DNA testing.

She has since argued her role dealt only with whether a state court or federal court should hear the case – the jurisdiction.

Bradley has said he learned from the controversy, adding that he has worked to give defense lawyers better access to prosecutor’s files – something that could have brought evidence like the bandana to light sooner.

He has the endorsement of Gov. Rick Perry, who once appointed him to head up the Texas Forensic Science Commission – a position that brought its own set of controversies.

The winner of this race will later face Democrat Ken Crain, a lawyer in Georgetown.

Paul Workman (Workman campaign)

The fight to keep western Travis County in the red comes down to two men fired up on the topic of amnesty – in some form or fashion. Rep. Paul Workman and his primary challenger, lawyer Ryan Downton, have dug into a race full of neighborhoods plastered in illegal immigration signs.

Both men have pledged to clamp down on the issue. However, Workman can’t seem to get past a piece of failed legislation he authored last session that would have given undocumented immigrants the opportunity to apply for resident alien cards if they pass a criminal background check.

Downtown has said the bill would have offered amnesty to that group, though Workman denies that as a possibility. The bill never received a vote in the House.

Ryan Downton (KXAN)

Downton’s campaign has put up signs throughout the district stating Workman supports amnesty for undocumented immigrants, pushing people to the website paulworkman.org. It was specifically created to attack Workman on this issue.

Workman – who raised five times more money last month that Downton – has since put up his own counter signs, saying he opposes amnesty. However, during a recent forum, it was clear he and members of the audience felt other issues have been overshadowed by this single topic.

The forum eventually showed the two have similar views on a variety of things: leaving the rainy day fund untouched, repealing President Barack Obama’s health insurance plan, and focusing on water during this drought-stricken time for the district.

The winner of this race will face Democrat Chris Frandsen, a small businessman and veteran.