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By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

October 7, 1998 / 6:34 PM EDT / CBS


face=Arial>There is no Senate race in this state.


Incumbent	Gov.George W. Bush(R)
Opponent	Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro(D)
*Race outlook*	Strong Republican

This year Republican Governor George W. Bush is vying to become the first incumbent governor of Texas to be re-elected to a second term since Democrat Dolph Briscoe in 1974. His prospects of accomplishing this are excellent. The question is not so much who will win but by how much, since Bush is almost certain to beat his Democratic challenger, Texas Land ommissioner Garry Mauro.

Bush has concentrated as much on wooing Democrats as he has on shoring up his Republican base. He has won endorsements from top Democrats, including the state's highest-ranking Democrat, Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, and former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier. He also has reached out to Hispanic voters by launching a significant Spanish-language media campaign and was endorsed by Tejano music star Emilio. Although he has been far ahead in the polls, he has bolstered his image with a blitz of positive, issue-oriented ads to the tune of $10 million since July. Campaign officials don't like to talk about President 2000, but they can't deny that's what everyone else is talking about.

Mauro's campaign was dealt a severe blow in November 1997, when Mauro's former boss and mentor, Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, endorsed Bush for re-election. Since then, Mauro has not been able to stem the defections of Texas Democrats, although he has received significant financial help from national Democrats. President Clinton, whom Mauro has known since the McGovern campaign, has raised more than $1 million for Mauro, and Hillary Clinton has also campaigned for him. But Clinton isn't the issue -- it seems no one can compete with the Bush name here. Mauro has criticized Bush for cashing in on his name and raising money from his father's cronies, but nothing seems to stick. Look for a big Bush win here on election day.


Current Lineup: 30 Districts, 13 Republicans, 17 Democrats. There will be one open-seat contest.
CD1
Incumbent	MAX SANDLIN (D) -- age 46, Elected 1996
Opponent	Dennis Boerner (R) -- age 63, Real Estate Appraiser/'96 candidate
*Outlook*	Strong Democrat
*District Profile*;	Northeast - Texarkana; Marshall, House 1996: D-52% R-47%

CD2
Incumbent	JIM TURNER (D) -- age 52, Elected 1996
Opponents	size=2> Brian Babin (R) -- age 50, size=2>Dentist/Â'96 nominee size=2> Wendell Drye (Libertarian), Retired Businessman/Â'92 nominee
*Outlook*	Likely Democrat
*District Profile*;	size=2> East - Lufkin; Orange, face=Arial size=2>House 1996: D-52% R-46%

CD3
Incumbent	SAM JOHNSON (R) --age 68, face=Arial size=2>Elected May 1991
Opponent	size=2> Ken Ashby (Libertarian), Retired Teacher/Engineer/Perennial candidate
*Outlook*	Strong Republican
*District Profile*;	size=2> Northeast Dallas suburbs; Plano, House 1996 D-24% R-73%

CD4
Incumbent	RALPH HALL (D) --age 75, Elected 1980
Opponents	size=2> Jim Lohmeyer (R) -- age 44, Physician/GOP Activist Jim Simon (Libertarian), Restaurant Manager
*Outlook*	Strong Democrat
*District Profile*;	size=2> Northeast - Sherman; part of Tyler, House size=2>1996: D-64% R-34%

CD5
Incumbent	PETE SESSIONS (R) --age 43, Elected 1996
Opponents	size=2> Victor Morales (D) -- age 48, size=2>Teacher/Â'96 Senate nominee size=2> Michael Needleman (Libertarian), size=2>Tobacconist
*Outlook*	Strong Republican
*District Profile*;	size=2> East Central - Part of Dallas; eastern and southern suburbs, House 1996: D-47% R-53%

CD6
Incumbent	JOE BARTON (R) --age 49, Elected 1984
Opponents	size=2> Ben Boothe (D) -- age 50, Businessman/Dem Activist Richard Bandlow (Libertarian), Airline Pilot
*Outlook*	Strong Republican
*District Profile*;	size=2> Suburban Dallas - Part of Fort Worth; part of Arlington, House 1996: R-77% I-13% Lib-7%

CD7
Incumbent	BILL ARCHER (R) --age 70, Elected 1970
Opponent	size=2> Drew Parks (Libertarian), Research Designer
*Outlook*	Strong Republican
*District Profile*;	size=2> Western Houston; northwestern suburbs, House face=Arial size=2>1996: D-15% R-81%

CD8
Incumbent	KEVIN BRADY (R) --age 43, Elected 1996
Opponent	size=2> Don Richards (Libertarian), size=2>Journalist
*Outlook*	Strong Republican
*District Profile*;	size=2> Northern Houston suburbs; College Station, House 1996: D-14% R(Brady)-41% R-39%

CD9
Incumbent	NICK LAMPSON (D) --age 53, Elected 1996
Opponent	size=2> Tom Cottar (R) -- age 53, Insurance Company Owner/GOP Activist
*Outlook*	Strong Democrat
*District Profile*;	size=2> Southeast - Beaumont; Galveston, House 1996: face=Arial size=2>D-53% R-47%

CD10
Incumbent	LLOYD DOGGETT (D) --age 52 face=Arial size=2>Elected 1994
Opponent	size=2> Vincent May (Libertarian), size=2>Carpenter
*Outlook*	Strong Democrat
*District Profile*;	size=2> Central - Austin, House 1996: D-56% R-41%

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