There’s no shortage of intrigue as Texas voters head to the polls. | AP Photos Intrigue in House primaries in Texas

The oldest member of the House faces one of his toughest reelection fights in three decades against a tea party-backed upstart. A former Democratic congressman swept away by the 2010 Republican tidal wave makes a play for his old seat. And an up-and-coming, 37-year-old Latino state legislator with a Harvard law degree sets his sights on Washington.

There’s no shortage of intrigue as Texas voters head to the polls Tuesday for a series of House primaries that will help decide the makeup of the Lone Star State’s newly-expanded congressional delegation.


In the two most closely-watched contests, veteran Reps. Ralph Hall, a Republican, and Silvestre Reyes, a Democrat, are trying to ward off stiff challenges. If either loses or fails to dispatch his opponent, it would be fresh evidence that – after the spring defeats of Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar and Illinois Rep. Don Manzullo — years of service in Washington remain more of a liability than a boon with voters this year.

The contests follow a contentious and drawn-out Texas redistricting process, which eventually wound up before the U.S. Supreme Court. Texas added four districts due largely to an explosion in Hispanic population over the last decade, expanding its delegation from 32 seats to 36 seats. Both parties will pick nominees in each of the new districts.

Democrats are also choosing a nominee in the high-profile race against GOP Rep. Francisco Canseco, a vulnerable freshman.

If no candidate receives a majority in any of the races, the top two finishers will compete in a July 31 runoff.

Here’s POLITICO’s look at the Texas congressional primaries to watch.

4th District

Hall, a 16-term congressman and dean of the Texas delegation, hasn’t won reelection with less than 58 percent of the vote.

Yet there is reason to believe that this year could be different for Hall, who at 89 is the oldest member of the House.

Steve Clark, Hall’s lead primary opponent, picked up 30 percent of the vote in his 2010 race against the incumbent. Clark, a tea party-aligned former telecommunications company executive, has spent around $100,000 out of his own wallet.

Clark has also received backup from the Campaign for Primary Accountability, a nonpartisan super PAC that has been targeting members of both parties in primaries. It has dropped about $165,000 on ads attacking Hall. In a not-so-subtle dig at Hall’s age, one recent TV spot from the group reminds voters that Jimmy Carter was president when Hall arrived in Congress.

16th District

Reyes is facing a serious primary against Beto O’Rourke, a former El Paso City councilman who’s trying to portray the 67-year-old congressman as ineffectual and past his prime.

O’Rourke has crisscrossed the border district accusing Reyes, an eight-term member of the House Armed Services Committee, of failing to use his seniority to serve the needs of his west Texas district. The 39-year-old challenger has also hit the veteran congressman hard on ethics, highlighting reports that Reyes used his campaign account to pay members of his family. Reyes has denied any improper conduct.

O’Rourke has also received a boost from the Campaign for Primary Accountability, which has spent $100,000 against Reyes.

Reyes has punched back hard, highlighting O’Rourke’s support for marijuana legalization. And Reyes recently released a TV ad on O’Rourke’s arrest history for charges of DUI and burglary. The spot includes video footage of O’Rourke dancing on a bar top.

The incumbent has also sought to buttress himself with endorsements from President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton, who recently traveled to the district to campaign for Reyes.

23rd District

This San Antonio-area district held by Canseco is the only Texas seat that’s likely to be in play in November. Just how competitive Democrats make the race might depend on whom they select as their nominee.

Much of the party apparatus has rallied around Pete Gallego, a state representative endorsed by a stable of state lawmakers who have come to view him as the most electable Democrat in the general election.

But Gallego is facing a competitive primary against Ciro Rodriguez, a former congressman who lost his seat to Canseco in 2010. Rodriguez has been an unimpressive fundraiser, taking in about $180,000 - roughly a quarter of Gallego’s haul. But the former lawmaker is a well-known commodity in the San Antonio area and could rack up votes among some of the district’s more urban voters, whom he formerly represented.

The League of Conservation Voters has spent more than $240,000 on ads opposing Rodriguez, who has drawn the wrath of the group over his 2009 vote against an energy bill backed by President Barack Obama.

30th District

Democratic Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson is a Dallas institution: The 10-term congresswoman is the first black woman to represent North Texas in Congress. But she’s now up against two challengers eager to replace her.

The Johnson challenger who has drawn the most attention is Taj Clayton, an attorney who recently released a slickly-produced Web video showing him running around the district and introducing himself to voters. Clayton has managed to raise a respectable $400,000 – about $160,000 less than Johnson.

Another Johnson primary opponent is Barbara Mallory Caraway, a state representative who has struggled in her fundraising efforts.

A former Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman, Johnson has shown she won’t go down easily. After a report surfaced in 2010 that the congresswoman awarded CBC Foundation college scholarships to a handful of her relatives – a violation of the organization’s rules – she still won her primary in convincing fashion.

All will not be lost for Clayton and Caraway if they fall short: The two have positioned themselves as frontrunners to eventually succeed the 76-year-old Johnson.

Open Seats

There are another half-dozen vacant seats on the ballot Tuesday with primaries worth watching. In each case, the primary is tantamount to the general election.

Two are seats of departing members. The winner of the Republican primary for the southeast Gulf Coast 14th District seat of retiring Rep. Ron Paul, which features a lineup of contenders including attorney Jay Old and state Rep. Randy Weber, will be favored to win the GOP-oriented seat in the general election.

In the San Antonio-area 20th District seat of retiring Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, state Rep. Joaquin Castro, 37, a rising star in the world of Latino politics and the brother of San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, is on a glide path to election. Castro, who boasts degrees from Stanford University and Harvard Law School, faces little opposition in Tuesday’s Democratic primary and has drawn only a marginal GOP rival.

Another four races are for newly-drawn seats that were added in reapportionment.

Republicans are competing in a crowded primary for the Central Texas-based 25th District. The winner of the GOP contest — candidates include former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams and former Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams — will be favored to hold the Republican-tilting seat in November. Michael Williams is trying to become only the third black member of the House GOP Conference, but his bid has been hamstrung by lackluster fundraising.

Democrats are battling in a competitive primary for a North Central Texas-area 33rd District seat. Marc Veasey, a state representative who’s won the backing of ex-Rep. Martin Frost, is expected to advance to a July runoff against former state Rep. Domingo Garcia or dentist David Alameel.

A small crowd of Democrats are also competing for a South Gulf Coast-based 34th District seat. Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos has emerged as the favorite for a seat that strongly favors Democrats in November.

About ten Republicans are battling for a southeast Texas-based 36th District seat, including funeral director Ky Griffin and financial advisor Stephen Takach. The Republican primary victor will be favored to win the general election.