Democratic Race Creates Drama as Texas Political Season Opens

AUSTIN, Tex. — The 1994 political season opened Tuesday in Texas, where a former state attorney general, a Ross Perot supporter and a congressman battled in a Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. The winner hopes to take back the seat now held by Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Democratic Gov. Ann Richards and former President Bush’s son, George, were up against token opponents in bids for their party’s gubernatorial nomination.

Two members of the state’s congressional delegation faced tough challenges: Houston Democratic Reps. Craig A. Washington and Gene Green.

Houston City Councilor Sheila Jackson Lee ran an aggressive campaign against Washington, criticizing him for missed votes. Green’s challenger in a mostly Latino district was another member of the City Council, Ben Reyes.

In the Senate race, former state Atty. Gen. Jim Mattox was vying with Perot supporter Richard Fisher and Rep. Mike Andrews. The election came a month after state ethics charges against Hutchison were dropped.

Hutchison, who won a special election for the seat vacated by Democrat Lloyd Bentsen when he became President Clinton’s Treasury secretary in 1993, faced token opposition in her bid to win the GOP nomination.

Voting was reported slow across much of the state Tuesday, partly because of the snow. Secretary of State John Hannah forecast a 16% turnout. Mattox and Andrews said they were concerned about how a light turnout could affect results.

Hutchison was expected to have little trouble winning the nomination against six opponents. But the Democrats fought to the wire; if no candidate won more than 50% Tuesday, the top two finishers would advance to an April 12 runoff.

Richards and George W. Bush, managing partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, each faced a little-known opponent.

The Texas primaries were the first of the year for Senate and gubernatorial elections. Clinton’s party enjoys a 56-44 majority in the Senate, and must defend 21 of the 34 seats up for election this year.

There also are 36 gubernatorial races this year. Twenty-two are in states held by Democrats, 12 by Republicans and two by Independents.