What Are The Odds? Some Texas Races Could Be A Toss Up

HOUSTON, TX — What are the odds?

The most active midterm election cycle since the 1996 election has bookmakers salivating, and Texas Democrats turning out in droves in the hopes of turning Texas blue, or at least a lovely shade of purple, before the 2020 election.

The oddsmakers at PredictIt.org have their eyes on a number of seats up for grabs, including the Senate seat held by Republican Ted Cruz, and the District 7 seat held by John Culberson.

While both stand a chance of winning in the primary, both candidates could have their work cut out for them in the November election.

Culberson faces five Democratic challengers for his seat, which the Texas Tribune labeled among the most talented field of Democrats in the US.

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There 's also the race in San Antonio to replace the retiring Lamar Smith, which has drawn 18 Republicans and four Democrats

Odds makers are especially interested in the the Texas Senate race, where incumbent Cruz hopes to hold onto the seat he won in 2012, defeating then-Lt.Gov. David Dewhurst in a runoff.

While he may win the primary, Democrats are betting on darkhorse Beto O'Rourke (D-El Paso) to become the first Texas Democrat elected to the Senate since Lloyd Bensten in 1988.

Other key races in the Houston area include District 2, currently held by the retiring Ted Poe, which has attracted a field of 14 who are vying to replace the seven-term lawmaker.

Oddsmakers feel the top three Republicans of Dan Crenshaw, Kevin Roberts and Kathleen Wall could be headed to a runoff, as could the Deomcrats, which include H. P. Parvizian, Ali A. Khorasani, Silky Malik, J. Darnell Jones, and Todd Litton.

Litton has been the front runner in early voting, but with such a crowded field, a runoff is virtually assured.

The polls close statewide at 7 p.m.

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