Two of the big dogs in Republican money circles — John Nau and Bob Perry, both of Houston — have switched candidates in the SD-17 race. They'll both be supporting former state District Judge Joan Huffman in that special election in November.

Both Nau, a beer distributor, and Perry, a homebuilder, had initially supported Austin Furse III. Furse also has the support of Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston, whose mid-term resignation from the Senate opened the seat. A spokesman for Perry said the builder thinks Huffman "will be a very strong candidate and a very good senator." He didn't say what led to Perry's change of heart.

Finance reports from the candidates aren't due until mid-month, though the reporting period ended June 30. Huffman has said she put a "substantial amount" of her own money into her campaign coffers; it's not clear how much Nau and Perry gave to either or both of the two candidates.

Rumors that Texans for Lawsuit Reform have endorsed Huffman aren't true, according to a spokeswoman, who says the group hasn't yet named a favorite in this race.

Candidates have to file by August 29 and the special election will happen on the same day as the general election, November 4. But the field is open to candidates from both parties and unlike the general election, will require a runoff if nobody gets more than 50 percent of the vote.

In addition to Huffman and Furse, Republican Grant Harpold has said he'll be in the race. On the Democratic side, former congressmen and Houston City Council Member Chris Bell is "leaning toward running," but hasn't declared or filed.

Bell's presence is one of the arguing points being used by Huffman's supporters, who contend she's more likely to beat him than any of the other Republicans, including Furse. Another Republican who thought about jumping in — former Rep. Brad Wright — decided not to make the race and is backing Huffman. And some Republicans have accused Janek and his consultant, Allen Blakemore, of trying to anoint the senator's successor, arguing that Furse ought to be rejected on those grounds alone.

One other Democrat's name surfaced in rumors about the seat, but attorney Jim Sharp, who's running for a spot on the 1st Court of Appeals in Houston, says he inquired about the partisan numbers in the district because it overlaps with his own — not because he wants to run for Senate.