Leppert May Try to Parlay Local Wins into Senate Victory

By Gromer Jeffers
The Dallas Morning News

Hodge Faces Test
The Texas House District 100 race between incumbent Terri Hodgeand Dallas lawyer Eric Johnson should be fun to watch.

Hodge's pending bribery trial aside, the race isn't that hard to handicap.

If Johnson uses his resources and enthusiasm to expand the normal District 100 electorate, he has a good chance of beating the longtime incumbent in the March Democratic primary.

But Hodge, with her emphasis on providing simple constituent services, has established a solid base of support. She will probably win if turnout is at or below normal.

Hodge has not been tested since she first won the seat in 1996.

We'll see how she handles being pushed.