Nevertheless, a few interesting races are one the ballot for the general election. Obviously, predicting which races will become hot is more art than science and certainly subject to change. Here’s what we know so far:

Houston

The marquee race in Houston could well be the special election to succeed Sen. Kyle Janek (R-Houston), who will resign in June. Right now, former Harris County GOP Chairman Gary Polland and Austin Furse are considered likely candidates, though others will likely step forward before the filing deadline. There will also likely be a Democrat in the race.

Another key race in the Houston area is the open seat vacated by Rep. Robert Talton’s (R-Pasadena) unsuccessful bid for Congress. Republican nominee Ken Legler will face Democrat Joel Redmond in the general — a test of how far Democrats have come in the county.

Rep. Hubert Vo (D-Houston) could also face the fight of his life. His name appeared in a headline of the Houston Chronicle’s editorial page with the word "slumlord." The Republicans have recruited a good candidate in Greg Meyers (a Houston school trustee). This one could get interesting.

Other races that may not be on the radar screen right now but could get expensive are the challenges to Reps. John Davis (R-Houston), Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston), Gary Elkins (R-Houston) and Jim Murphy (R-Houston). Some of these are rematches from the previous cycle, which the Republican won easily, but given demographic trends in the state’s urban counties, the GOP is not taking these races for granted.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

The marquee attraction here is the Senate race between Sen. Kim Brimer (R-Arlington) and Fort Worth City Council member Wendy Davis. Democrats are already pounding Brimer on ethics issues, particularly one that involves his rental of a condo from a spouse (which was legal when it was done). Expect this race to get expensive and nasty.

Rep. Bill Zedler (R-Arlington) is at the top of the Democrats’ target list, facing Chris Turner in the general election. Also of interest are the rematches between Rep. Allen Vaught (D-Dallas) and former Republican Rep. Bill Keffer, as well as the rematch of the special election between Rep. Dan Barrett (D-Fort Worth) and Mark Shelton for the open seat vacated by Anna Mowery.

Reps. Kirk England (D-Grand Prairie) and Paula Hightower Pierson (D-Arlington) could also face serious opponents.

Central Texas

Perhaps the most interesting race here is the open seat in House District 17, where Tim Kleinschmidt who almost beat incumbent Rep. Robby Cook (D-Eagle Lake) in 2006, is running against Donnie Dippel, a former official with the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Republicans will try to knock off Rep. Valinda Bolton (D-Austin), the instrument being Donna Keel, sister-in-law of former Rep. Terry Keel (R-Austin), who represented the district until 2007.

Democrats will target the open seat vacated by Rep. Mike Krusee (R-Round Rock). Their candidate, Diana Maldonado, a Round Rock school trustee, will face Republican Bryan Daniel in the general election, which is almost guaranteed to be one of the more expensive races in the state.

Other key races

In the Coastal Bend region Republicans feel confident that former Democratic Rep. Todd Hunter, who switched to the GOP, can beat Rep. Juan Garcia (D-Corpus Christi). Garcia gets very favorable press from the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. But Hunter is well-liked in the rural counties of the district, and his campaign co-chairmen are former Reps. Hugo Berlanga (D-Corpus Christi) and Judy Hawley (D-Portland), both very highly regarded in the Coastal Bend.

In El Paso, watch the general election contest between Dee Margo and Democrat Joseph Moody. Margo carried the district in his unsuccessful Senate campaign against Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) in 2006. But many of the supporters of ousted Rep. Pat Haggerty (R-El Paso) are still upset. Margo will have to attract independents to win in this Republican-leaning swing district.

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