April 9, 2002:
In the Democratic primary runoff for the Senate seat being vacated by GOP incumbent Phil Gramm, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, an African-American, easily defeats schoolteacher Victor Morales, who waged an energetic, albeit unsuccessful, race against Gramm six years earlier.
Kirk, the first black Senate nominee in Texas history, will face state Attorney General John Cornyn, the Republican nominee, in November.
Democrats hope to sell Kirk, along with gubernatorial nominee Tony Sanchez, as part of a "Dream Team" that would appeal to black and Latino voters. But Kirk will lose to Cornyn, and Sanchez will be beaten by Gov. Rick Perry.
Kirk is currently the United States Trade Representative.
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