introducing rick noriega

It's an exciting time to be a Texas Democrat. 2008 could be the year that we finally turn Texas blue. An entire slate of candidates is ready to make that happen, and that's why they are vying for a spot on the ballot by campaigning in the Democratic primary.

One such candidate is Rick Noriega. Lt. Col. Noriega is running against Mikal Watts, Emil Reichstadt, and anyone else that throws their name in the race between now and the deadline, in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate race. Isn't it nice to have some choices?

Noriega seems ready to take on John "Box Turtle" Cornyn. Here's a recent television ad from the Noriega campaign. Let us know what you think. Is he your candidate?

who is emil reichstadt?

We don't know either.

But he's apparently ready to take on Sen. John Cornyn. Reichstadt is the first Democrat to throw his hat in the ring for the 2008 Senate nomination.

Here's a quick run-down of information gathered from Reichstadt's press release: Reichstadt is an Arkansas-born 58-year-old Democrat that once attended Southern Methodist University and knew Willis D. Tate. He is a former Army JAG officer (stationed in Germany during the '70s and '80s) who supports a strong military. He also supports bipartisanship and cleaning up the environment. He currently practices law in Dallas.

Sounds good, right? But who is he? I guess time will tell. Everybody's got to start somewhere, but it does seem odd that this guy's first foray into the political arena is a bid for his party's nomination to the United States Senate.

Could he really pull it off? It's going to take a lot of fundraising! He'll have to edge out bigger names that are being thrown around, if those campaigns come to fruition (i.e. Nick Lampson, Rick Noriega, Bill White). He may also face Barbara Ann Radnofsky, who ran against Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in 2006, and may have her sights set on Cornyn's seat in 2008.

So, Emil. It's going to take more than an announcement. Show us what you've got.

will radnofsky challenge cornyn in 2008?

Barbara Ann Radnofsky, the Houston Democrat that challenged Republican incumbent Kay Bailey Hutchison for her seat in the U.S. Senate, may be gearing up for another campaign for the same position... in 2008.

Many have speculated that her bid against a popular incumbent was simply a way to gain name recognition while campaigning statewide. Not only would she earn credentials, she would be able to say that she took on the most popular politician in Texas unflinchingly. Then she would be able to challenge the weaker of Texas' two Republican Senators, John Cornyn, who is up for re-election in 2008.

Radnofsky's holiday message to supporters suggests that she might be planning to announce an exploratory committee or an official campaign sometime in 2007.

We've kept the entire professional campaign staff together. Katie Floyd, Communications Director, is busy with our new Art Project (we have become dealers in JapanArt.Org and will be posting on the website soon), visiting her beautiful horse and baking for the holidays. She's also editing the second campaign book, and will plan a book and thank you tour for the spring. Katie planned and executed our successful fundraiser for Ciro and we all rejoiced in his win in the runoff. We're also working on starting a PAC. Your suggestions for names would be appreciated.

Seth Davidson, Campaign Manager, is also a principal in our Japan Art venture and remains with his business, Wildsteps. I'm traveling, thanking folks, spending time with family, doing the occassional mediation, planning the PAC and looking forward to the future. I'm counting my blessings, particularly you who read the newsletters.

I have great hope for the future. Believe.

Warmest regards,
BAR

One thing is for sure: if Radnofsky decides to make a run for Cornyn's seat, she'll have to emerge victorious from what is bound to be a more contentious primary than she faced in 2006, when she was forced into a runoff election against a perennial candidate. There are bound to be several sets of prominent Democratic eyes focusing on Cornyn's floundering approval ratings.

democrats take the senate

After an exhausting hotly-contested Senate race in Virginia, Democrat Jim Webb has been declared the victor, leading his party to the majority in the United States Senate for the first time since 2002.

A source close to incumbent Republican Sen. George Allen says that the ongoing canvass, expected to end sometime today, has not put a dent in his challenger's leading numbers.

The new makeup of the Senate will consist of 49 Republicans, 49 Democrats, and two independents. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut have both promised to caucus with the Democrats, giving that party the 51 seats it will need to reclaim a majority in the Senate.

Close elections were also held in Missouri, Montana and Tennessee. In Missouri, Democrat Claire McCaskill unseated Republican incumbent Sen. Jim Talent; in Montana, Democrat Jon Tester defeated Republican incumbent Sen. Conrad Burns; and in Tennessee, Republican Bob Corker was able to defeat Democrat Harold Ford, Jr. in what many pundits agreed was a nasty campaign from both candidates.