Bryan Daniel

The Austin American-Statesman reports that Democrat Diana Maldonado won the open contest for House District 52, defeating Republican Bryan Daniel.  With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Maldonado led Daniel 49 to 47 percent, according to the Texas Secretary of State.

The race in Williamson County was one of the mostly closely watched in the state.  State Rep. Mike Krusee (R-Round Rock) did not seek re-election. Krusee won his 2006 contest with just 52 percent of the vote, and Democrats hoped Maldonado would be able to make inroads in the historically Republican district.

Below are the unofficial early voting totals from Williamson County, as reported by the Williamson County Elections Department.

House District 52 

Diana Maldonado (D) 50 percent

Bryan Daniel (R) 46 percent

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Dallas) came to the aid of a number of state legislative candidates and "played a larger role than usual," the Austin American-Statesman reports. The likely 2010 gubernatorial candidate held 24 fundraisers for state legislative contenders and devoted "more time campaigning" for them than in previous years, according to aides.

Her political action committee wrote $1,000 checks to 23 legislative candidates, up from two PAC contributions she made to such candidates in 2006 and none in 2004.

Diana Maldonado speaks at Noriega rally: Politicker photoROUND ROCK - After Democrat Diana Maldonado spoke briefly at a campaign rally for state Rep. Rick Noriega (D-Houston), she outlined her campaign's final days in an interview with PolitickerTX.com. She said her Republican opponent, Bryan Daniel, would not be an independent voice for the community because of the large, last-minute contributions he has taken from a handful of donors. 

Georgetown Republican Bryan Daniel's war chest ballooned, with almost $600,000 dollars in contributions during the past month, but more than half his haul came from just two sources.

Daniel's campaign had been cash-strapped for months, but two PACs, House Speaker Tom Craddick's Stars Over Texas and Texans for Lawsuit Reform, infused his campaign with more than $360,000 in contributions. From Sept. 26 to Oct. 25 he brought in close to $588,000, while Democrat Diana Maldonado brought in nearly $305,000.

The Austin American-Statesman endorsed two Democrats running in competitive state House races. In House District 52, the Statesman backed Diana Maldonado, a former Round Rock school board president, and supported La Grange agricultural consultant Donnie Dippel for House District 17.

The editorial board backed both candidates in large measure because it said their opponents might support the current House leadership, which the board opposes.  

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Dallas) will campaign with Bryan Daniel later this month. The state's senior senator will join Daniel at an early voting kick-off event on Oct. 17. The reception will take place at the Louisiana Longhorn in downtown Round Rock at 4 p.m.

Democrat Diana Maldonado crushed Republican Bryan Daniel in the last fundraising quarter, out raising her opponent by nearly three-to-one and keeping far more cash on hand. According to Texas Ethics Commission filing reports, Maldonado raised about $227,000 from Jul. 1 to Sept. 25, while Daniel took in nearly $85,000. Heading into the final weeks of the campaign, Maldonado has almost $280,000 cash on hand, while Daniel has under $20,000.

Democrat Diana Maldonado is running as both a candidate of change and someone who wants to maintain her district's roots and its reputation as a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

"I have the courage to protect Williamson County's rural past and lead our community to a safe and prosperous future," Maldonado told PolitickerTX.com.

The first thing you notice about Bryan Daniel is he talks fast. The second is he likes lists. The Georgetown Republican quickly recalled his policy positions and district's needs in an interview with PolitickerTX.com. No doubt this skill will be useful as he heads into the last days of one of Texas's most competitive state House contests.