(I'm also happy to promote this local report from the Western edge of Texas! - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Many in El Paso and in some parts of Texas were expecting to see a shoot out here in El Paso over the Senate seat left vacant by Senator Shapleigh who made the decision not to seek re-election back in October. The presumed participants in the shootout go by the last names Rodriguez and Chavez.
Rodriguez, being long-time El Paso County Attorney Jose Rodriguez, a man who was a one point a farmworker, and Chavez being long-time State Representative Norma Chavez, who at one point worked for the United Farmworker's Union.
That's how many people thought it was going to play out. They were half right.
Rodriguez is a candidate, but State Representative Norma Chavez chose to stay in the House and run for re-election. Chavez has been the senior Chicana in the El Paso delegation and the two Democrats appear to be on the road to reconsiliation.
Unless a Democratic challenger arises for Rodriguez he will face another Chavez (no relation), but in November from El Paso Republican businessman, Dan Chavez. Dan Chavez has previously run for several offices but has never won.
Rodriguez has received the support of El Paso's major Republican contributors earlier this month and many feel that was a signal that the Republicans were going to concede the seat to Rodriguez. The entrance of Dan Chavez in to the race is not considered to be a development that will cause Rodriguez to lose any sleep. El Paso County is overwhelmingly Democratic and Dan Chavez has never won an election at any level in El Paso.
In the end, the race is still Rodriguez V. Chavez, just not the way most people thought it would be.
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