The date for the HD48 special election runoff is February 14, with early voting beginning on February 6. Democrats are united behind Donna Howard. If you want to know more about how badly Ben Bentzin did in the initial race, check out these two articles, all from the Austin Chronicle.

Don't get too relaxed after that, because the HD106 special is just around the corner, on February 28. If Howard and Katy Hubener can prevail, that would increase the Democratic caucus from 62 to 65 since the last sessions (the Dems were down one after the tragic death of Joe Moreno). As it happens, it would also increase the number of women in the Lege by three. Stay tuned.