District 17
Democratic Incumbent: Donnie Dippel (Cook)
Challenger: Tim Kleinschmidt
Location: Central Texas
Website: http://donniedippel.com
Kerry 2004: 36.0%
Moody 2006: 49.3%
DPI 2008: 42.3%

Donnie Dippel is running for the seat currently held by Democrat Robby Cook. This is the only Democratic held open seat at risk. The 17th District sits between Austin and Houston covering all or parts of six counties including Bastrop and Burleson. While top-ticket Democrats sometimes fare poorly in the District, downballot centrist Democrats like Dippel do very well. Dippel’s family has lived in the area since 1854 and his agriculture and small business background are also advantages in the District. The Texas Observer notes, “Nearly 21,000 voters showed up in the [Democratic] primary-more than either Cook or Kleinschmidt received in the 2006 general election." (Texas Observer, May 30, 2008) Dippel should be able to defend the Democrats only contested open seat.

Juan Garcia ran a very impressive campaign in 2006 beating longtime incumbent Gene Seaman. Garcia is once again campaigning hard. This is expected to be one of the most expensive races in the State House, but with more than a half million dollars cash on hand, Garcia is keeping financial pace and so far has out raised his opponent. Garcia’s background as a pilot and Naval Officer should help him win reelection to his Corpus Christi based seat. His opponent, Todd Hunter, is a former House Member but has worked as a lobbyist since at least 1998, focusing much of his attention on assisting the insurance industry.

District 97
Democratic Incumbent: Dan Barrett
Challenger: Mark Shelton
Website: www.danbarrett.com
Location: Fort Worth
Kerry 2004: 35.8%
Moody 2006: 43.1%
DPI 2008: 38.2%

Dan Barrett proved his mettle by winning a special election in 2007 for this previously Republican held Tarrant County seat with more then 52% of the vote. In the special, Barrett beat his current opponent, Mark Shelton, who has now been through two bruising primaries and lost the runoff election in just the past 18 months. Shelton has just $37,728 cash on hand, after winning the Republican Primary in March. Shelton has publicly pledged his support for highly unpopular Speaker Tom Craddick and has engaged in unethical, and perhaps illegal, campaign tactics. Barrett should be able to beat Shelton for the second time in less than a year this November.

Allen Vaught faces a rematch with harshly partisan Tom Craddick ally Bill Keffer. Keffer had the active support of Craddick and had the advantages of incumbency in 2006, yet lost to combat veteran Allen Vaught. Vaught served as an Army officer in Iraq, stationed in both Fallujah and Baghdad, before being injured in an IED attack. Meanwhile, Keffer was supporting coal fired power plants in North Texas and opposing critical funding for local public schools. Now that Vaught is the incumbent, he should be able to build on his ’06 margin.

Mark Homer has been serving in the Texas House since 1999. He faces Republican challenger Kirby Hollingsworth for the third time. Homer won the 2006 contest against Hollingsworth by more than 18 percentage points, but must run an active well-financed campaign in his conservative leaning rural district. Homer currently sits on the House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism as well as being Vice-Chair of the powerful Committee on Judiciary. During the past session, Homer has worked to raise salaries for Texas teachers, restore cuts that were made to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), reduce the costs of utility rates for low-income families, and supported clean air legislation, among many other issues.

Chuck Hopson is a popular East Texas Representative who is serving his fourth term, despite always being a top target of partisan Republicans. Hopson won 52.7% of the vote in 2004 and 51% of the vote in 2006. Hopson is an independent pharmacist who sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee and is Chairman of Budget and Oversight for the committee on Judicial Affairs. Hopson is a mainstream, common sense Democrat who identifies and reflects the conservative sensibilities of his district. He an active NRA member and tireless advocate for farmers, small businesses and working families.

Valinda Bolton was one of the six Democrats to win a Republican held seat in 2006. She won the southwest Travis County District 50.2% to 45.5%. Bolton was named Freshman of the Year in 2007 by the Legislative Study Group. Bolton faces Donna Keel, the sister-in-law of Terry Keel, one of Craddick’s most loyal allies and the current House Parliamentarian. Craddick’s unpopularity and the excitement about Obama’s campaign in Travis County should both help Bolton.

District 85
Democratic Incumbent: Joe Heflin
Challenger: Issac Castro
Location: West Texas - Crosbyton
Web: www.joeheflin.com
Kerry 2004: 23.7%
Moody 2006: 42.3%
DPI 2008 : 34.9%

In 2006, Joe Heflin skillfully defended this Republican leaning district that had been held by former House Speaker Pete Laney for more than 30 years. Heflin has deep roots in this rural West Texas District and enjoys the strong support of the still popular Pete Laney. Heflin ran more than 14 percent ahead of the Democratic average in 2006 and should be able to do so again in 2008. Democratic enthusiasm in the District is up after the 2008 primary where 2,300 more Democrats than Republicans turned out to vote. Heflin’s 2006 opponent lost despite spending a half million dollars more than Heflin. This time out, Heflin has the advantage of incumbency to compliment his strong local ties to the District.