Governor -- Texas -- Democratic Primary

Texas will hold a primary election next Tuesday, March 2.

The main contenders in the Democratic primary for governor are:

Bill White, 55, who was mayor of Houston from 2004 to 2010. He practiced law in that city from 1979 to 1993. White was Deputy Secretary of Energy in Bill Clinton's administration, from 1993 to 1995. He subsequently worked in the energy business.

Farouk Shami, 66, a businessman dealing in hair and skin care products. He is a Palestinian, originally from Ramallah in the West Bank, who emigrated to the U.S. in 1965. This is Shami's first campaign for public office.

White is well ahead in the polls. Here is a report on the website of the Austin American-Statesman, describing a poll earlier this month in which White held a 30-point lead.