Political experts at Southern Methodist University tracked local and national races, providing insight and commentary on political polls, the Democrats' struggle to win, the influence of the religious right, what messages got through to the electorate, and the rising influence of women in Congress.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR TEXAS AND THE NATION?

Cal Jillson is a scholar of American politics who follows Texas and national politics. Read his comments about Tuesday's elections in The London Financial Times, The Associated Press, The Christian Science Monitor and The Austin American-Statesman.

A professor of political science at SMU, Jillson also closely followed Texas races with a national angle, including Rep. Tom Delay’s seat, Rep. Chet Edwards’s seat, and the Governor’s race. Read more about Jillson’s research at: www.smu.edu/americandream.

RESEARCH SHOWS WOMEN WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN ‘06

Dennis Simon is the co-author of Breaking the Political Glass Ceiling, a look at the gender gap in politics. See him on ABC News or read his comments to such national media as CBS News, The Associated Press, The Detroit Free Press, The Washington Post, and The Northwest Indiana Times.

This fall, he conducted new research that shows:

1. Female candidates will be crucial to party control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
2. Women, as a proportion of all candidates running for the nomination to the U.S. House of Representatives, increased in 2006.
3. The gender gap between the Democratic and Republican parties has widened.
4. Most female incumbents are electorally secure.

Find out more at: www.smu.edu/womenincongress. Simon is an associate professor of political science at Southern Methodist University.