Why I want a Democrat -- any Democrat -- to be elected governor of Texas

Two seismic events will occur in Texas this year that will shape the Texas political landscape and, to a significant degree, the national political landscape, for years to come.

One, of course, is the gubernatorial election that's looking more and more as though it will pit the incumbent and unabashed far-right wingnut ideologue Gov. Hair against centrist Democrat and former (and extremely popular) Houston Mayor Bill White. White does not embrace the political philosophy I do, but I still fervently hope he will be elected, if, for no other reason, than because of the second seismic event: the census.

According to every forecast I've seen, Texas should see a significant population gain through the current census, enough of a gain to give it four additional seats in the House of Representatives. Most of that population increase will be in the state's urban areas, all of which (except for Fort Worth) are heavily Democratic (in the last presidential election, President Obama carried all the state's urban areas except for Fort Worth by a comfortable margin). Under a fair redistricting proposal (unlike the illegal one fostered upon us by Tom DeLay eight years ago), Democrats stand to make significant gains in the state and, thus, in the House as a whole.

Granted, the Texas Legislature will remain in Republican control and will make sure to pack the Legislative Redistricting Board. But the governor has veto power over any redistricting plan the board will draw and the legislature will approve. That's why it's important that a Democrat -- any Democrat -- is occupying the Governor's Mansion when a redistricting bill is presented to the state's chief executive.