Via BOR, I see that there’s a fourth potential contender for the Democratic nomination for Senate next year.
With Rick Noriega and Mikal Watts in the race for the U.S. Senate the Gossips hear that former State Senator and Head of Texas Tech John Montford is also looking at the race in the Democratic primary. Montford has been an executive with ATT (formerly Southwestern Bell) and is well respected in the business community. He is also well know in West Texas and would have support from Tech alumni. Before leaving the State Senate Montford looked at running for Lt. Governor but decided to take the Tech job instead. He will be well funded if he decides to go for the Senate.
(The third contender, in case you weren’t aware, is a Dallas attorney named Emil Reichstadt. I’ve not paid any attention to him because I think there’s a zero percent chance he’ll be the nominee.)
I know almost nothing about John Montford (see here and here if you’re like me), but from what I can see he’s got a strong resume. I strongly suspect he’s too conservative for my taste, and I think I’d have a hard time seeing him as something other than a throwback to Texas’ Democratic past – the contrast with Rick Noriega, or for that matter Mikal Watts, is pretty sharp. Nonetheless, if he’s serious about this then I welcome him to the race. Having this much interest in taking on John Cornyn is an unqualified boon, and having someone from West Texas in the mix should make the debate that much more lively. As with many rumors this may turn out to be nothing, but just the fact that stuff like this is being talked about is good. Stay tuned.