Two Senate races decided Tuesday were as contentious as the presidential election: state Rep. Mark Shelton's challenge to Sen. Wendy Davis for the state Senate District 10 seat, and former state Rep. Paul Sadler's underdog campaign against Ted Cruz to succeed outgoing U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Davis, the Democrat, appeared to barely secure another term in Austin. Cruz, the Republican, will head to Washington after winning by a large margin.The state Senate race was punctuated by negativity, with Shelton, a physician, accusing Davis of ethical violations involving her law practice and of using her office for self-enrichment.She denied the claims and won crossover support from some Republicans for her bold and effective stands on education and other issues during the 2011 session.She pulled ahead in the vote total late Tuesday, 51 percent to 49 percent.Education will again be a major topic in 2013 as the Legislature is forced by lawsuits now being tried to revamp the funding system for public schools.Women's health, another of Davis' issues, will also be a hot topic, given litigation over Medicaid funding and Texas' insistence on excluding Planned Parenthood as a provider.The impact of the U.S. Senate race might not be as immediately and directly felt, given that it appears Democrats will continue to have a majority.However, Cruz ran a Republican primary campaign appealing to uncompromising Tea Party elements of the GOP, which made him look considerably unlike Hutchison, who worked with Democrats to achieve results.He later softened his rhetoric, saying he wanted to "bring people together."Whether he can do that, especially as a freshman senator in the minority party, could depend largely on his party's willingness to work with Democrats to solve problems.Both sides must acknowledge that stalemate and inertia, especially with the nation's fiscal state, are not a responsible option.Cruz will have to remember that, despite his victory margin, he must represent all Texans.It's in their interest to help break the stalemate in Washington.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
