Many Texans may be leaving the Bush White House soon, but there's no shortage of candidates in the Lone Star state who might replace them.

Several Texans have emerged as contenders for posts in President-elect Barack Obama's administration. Obama has already asked two Texans to join his transition team: Juliet Garcia, president of the University of Texas-Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, and Espiridion "Al" Borrego, a University of Texas-Pan American professor and former United States Department of Labor official.

The following is a list of potential appointees based on various news reports and PolitickerTX.com's own research.

1.)   U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards: The Waco Democrat made it onto Obama's vice-presidential short list, and his name has surfaced for a possible post as secretary of Veteran's Affairs. Edwards did not rule out the possibility in an AP report: "Where could I do the most good for veterans? I'm not sure." Edwards mentioned he hadn't talked to Obama or his staff about the appointment.

2.)   Ron Kirk: The former Dallas mayor was one of Obama's strongest advocates during the primary and general election. Last week the Atlantic's Marc Ambinder suggested he was a possibility for commerce secretary. Kirk declined to comment to PolitickerTX.com about whether he had been approached or was interested in serving in the administration. As of last week he hadn't had "conversations" about serving, according to a Dallas Morning News report.

3.)   Former U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm: The Abilene Democrat is listed as possible secretary of agriculture in a flowchart obtained by U.S. News and World Report. Stenholm told PolitickerTX.com Wednesday he's not been contacted about a position.  

4.)   James Steinberg: The dean of the LBJ School of Public Affairs is often mentioned for National Security Advisor by Politco.com, Ambinder, and others. The NSA job would be a promotion; Steinberg served as President Clinton's deputy national security advisor. He did not respond to an inquiry from PolitickerTX.com.

5.)   Bill White: The Houston mayor has been mentioned as a possible head of the Department of Energy. White served as deputy energy secretary under President Bill Clinton. White told reporters he wasn't "jockeying" for a position last week, and he enjoyed being an elected official.

6.)   Former U.S. Rep. Pete Geren: U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) recommended Geren for defense secretary in a post on Politico.com. Geren, a Democrat from Fort Worth, currently serves as secretary of the army.

7.)    Blandina "Bambi" Cardenas: The University of Texas-Pan American president has been touted as a possible secretary of education in the Washington Post.

8.)   U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes: The El Paso Democrat chairs the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. His name has been floated for secretary of homeland security, says the El Paso Times.