Special election for Gallegos Senate seat?

Texas Senate hopefuls are awaiting a date for a special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by the death of Sen. Mario Gallegos, D-Houston, following his posthumous re-election last week.

Gov. Rick Perry will set the date of the special election, likely some time in December.

The field of potential candidates is already crowded.

State Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, announced her intention to run for the position on Monday.

Former Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia announced Friday that she will run.

The moves by Alvarado and Garcia have set up an endorsement battle between Houston-area politicians of color.

House Democratic Caucus Leader Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, endorsed Garcia for the state Senate District 6 seat, as have state Reps. Ana Hernandez Luna, D- Houston; Armando Walle, D-Houston; and Garnet Coleman, D-Houston.

Gallegos' wife reportedly said he told family members that he hoped Alvarado would succeed him.

Alvarado's backers include state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston; City of Houston Controller Ron Green; former Houston mayors Bill White and Lee Brown and Houston city council members James Rodriguez, C.O. Bradford and Oliver Pennington.

Republican R.W. Bray, who lost to Gallegos last week, also said he will run for the seat.

Others are considering a run for the position including former state representative and 2008 U.S. Senate candidate Rick Noriega.