Let's start off in Maryland, where it appears that the field to replace retiring Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D) is winnowing down. Gwyneth K. Shaw of the Baltimore Sun has the late-breaking scoop.

Calling it "one of the most difficult political decisions I have made," Rep. Chris Van Hollen said today that he will not be a candidate in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes.

"It was a difficult decision because I believe we could have waged an energetic and ultimately successful campaign," Van Hollen said in a letter to supporters released by his campaign. "However, I believe it was the right decision for two important reasons -- for my still young family and for our efforts to win a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives in 2006."

He thanked his supporters for their enthusiasm about a potential Senate candidacy.

Van Hollen, who is in his second term representing Montgomery County, has been mulling a bid since Sarbanes announced his retirement in early March. He toured the state and raised more than $700,000.

[...]

Van Hollen's demurral leaves Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin and Kweisi Mfume, a former congressman and head of the NAACP, as the only two formal candidates for the Democratic nomination. Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, who recently opened an exploratory committee, is considered the most likely Republican candidate.

While Maryland Dems moved one step closer to diminishing the possibility of a bitter primary (though one is still possible), in Texas, the GOP is edging closer and closer to what could be a highly contentious gubernatorial primary. The AP reports.

Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn is raising (M) millions of dollars to challenge Governor Rick Perry.

The Republicans plan to face each other in the 2006 election.

Strayhorn today announced she raised one and a-half (M) million dollars in campaign funds during a ten-day period in June.

Strayhorn in January reported having five-point-seven (M) million dollars in election money.

Both of these races should be fun to watch.