An Austin Senate seat opens up

Tuesday's political earthquake has implications big and small across the state. Here's one of keen interest to Austin politicos: the election of Sarah Eckhardt as state comptroller has created a vacancy in Senate District 14, which includes most of Austin.

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Here's a look at the district:

Council Member Chito Vela said he is strongly considering it:

Outgoing Council Member Paige Ellis also tells me she is considering it. One interesting coincidence that might benefit her: husband Ed Espinoza ran Eckhardt's unexpectedly successful comptroller campaign.

Longtime Democratic strategist and activist Katie Naranjo tells me she has filed a treasurer appointment report with the Texas Ethics Commission, the first step of setting up a campaign.

Jocelyn Tau, chief of staff to outgoing Congressman Lloyd Doggett, confirmed in a text message that she is weighing a run.

Other names I've heard:

• Austin Independent School Board Trustee Arati Singh.
• Pflugerville Council Member Rudy Metayer
• Austin Community College Board Trustee Stephanie Gharakhanian

If Vela wants to run, he will have to resign his City Council seat. The state constitution's "resign to run" clause requires this of a variety of city and county elected officials (but not state legislators).

Gov. Greg Abbott could call special elections for SD14 and the Dallas-area district that incoming Attorney General Nathan Johnson is vacating, but in hopes of hampering Democrats he likely will leave that to his successor. The result will be that Republicans will likely enjoy a 19-10 majority in the Senate until at least March, well into the next legislative session.

In special elections in Texas, there are no party primaries. So the election may very well feature a variety of Democrats and Republicans. If nobody gets over 50%, then the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to a runoff.

At least one Republican appears to have ruled it out:

Historically I've had a hard time understanding the appeal of serving in the Texas Legislature as a Democrat. Obviously things have changed in the last few days. Legislators are still essentially unpaid, but a Democratic House and governor offer a real chance to do policymaking that goes beyond harm reduction.

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