Texas Democrats have eight -- count 'em, eight -- candidates running for governor in the spring 2018 primary. Eleven candidates, seven Republicans and four Democrats, have signed on to replace Ted Poe in Congress.

Outspoken Republican Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has picked up a GOP primary challenger. So has GOP Land Commissioner George P. Bush, who has three -- including his colorful predecessor, Jerry Patterson, long an outspoken critic.

To say the least, the 2018 elections season promises to be, as the Church Lady once said, so sp-e-e-e-cial.

Add to that rambunctious list yet more debate over the bathroom bill, controversy over the Alamo and mounting complaints about the recovery from Hurricane Harvey, and the political season in Texas is beginning to look like a main event. Get the lowdown on what's really going on in this week's Texas Take podcast.

With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, it's Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio.