Ex-Texas National Youth Administration head and newly minted congressional candidate Lyndon Johnson
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TX-10: Here's a major surprise: Emma Nicholson Buchanan, the widow of deceased Rep. James Buchanan, has announced that she will not run in the upcoming special election to succeed her husband. Buchanan was probably the only candidate who could have cleared the field, and her decision means that we're in for a wide-open contest in this Austin-area seat. Like most Texas seats, the 10th is solidly Democratic, but it's anyone's guess who will take this post. All the candidates will run together on one ballot and the top vote-getter will get to Congress without a runoff.
One small-time candidate had, however, gotten into the race even before Buchanan made her decision public: Former state National Youth Administration head Lyndon Johnson. Johnson used to work as a congressional secretary to Richard Kleberg in the 14th District and he's also the son of former state Rep. Sam Johnson. But the younger Johnson, for all his ambition, starts out with minimal name recognition, and it doesn't help that he hails from Blanco County, a rural area that only makes up 2 percent of this district's population.
As you'd expect, several other possible candidates are mulling bids. The favorite is likely to be C. N. Avery, Rep. Buchanan's longtime campaign manager. Avery is well-connected, and he can count on the support of Mrs. Buchanan. Austin Mayor Tom Miller is also considering, though he may end up deferring to Avery.
Attorney Polk Shelton is another potential contender. He'd probably be the most conservative, anti-Roosevelt candidate; if the pro-New Deal vote splits in a crowded race, Shelton could benefit. Some other possibilities include Williamson County Judge Sam Stone, state Sen. Houghton Brownlee, and Merton Harris, an assistant state attorney general. This race is probably Avery's to lose, but we'll be keeping a close eye on this, especially if Miller gets in.
