February 18, 2020      5:38 PM

A scramble for a senate seat

Members of the Austin delegation along with local officials and activists already practicing their best Senate saunter

“Good morning, senator,” must have escaped the lips of more than one Travis County Democrat as they looked into a mirror today as news was breaking of the retirement of Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, who surprised political observers with his abrupt announcement.

Rumors of a Texas Senate Democrat stepping down picked up steam last night on social media – yes, spurred on by me – and ended this morning as the veteran member said he is resigning effective April 30 to take a job at the University of Houston as the first dean of the Hobby School of Public Affairs. Congrats, sir.

Before the dust could settle and all the praise could be heaped on Watson for his years of service, names were being floated and the Travis County delegation was meeting to talk about the dominoes that will inevitably fall. Here’s the down and dirty version of what we’re hearing at Buzz Central.

Copyright February 18, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved