31.  But he had been introducing Democratic state Rep. Vilma Luna of Corpus Christi to groups in South Texas.

32.  But he also said he would be independent from Republican policies, a position necessary in this basically Democratic state.

33.  But NATO assured those two countries and all other new democratic states in the region that the door remains open to future membership.

34.  But the country is still wrestling with its transition to a full democratic state.

35.  But the elder Cuomo, like many other Democrats, rejects the argument that Gore would need help in a reliably Democratic state like New York.

36.  California Gov. Pete Wilson predicted Republican victories this fall, starting with his own race against Democratic state Treasurer Kathleen Brown.

37.  Charles Quackenbush, a Republican from San Jose, beat veteran Democratic state Sen. Art Torres to succeed John Garamendi in the post.

38.  Democratic state Rep. Dan Gelber objected that the legislature was acting when the case was still in the courts.

39.  Democratic state Representative Robert Starr grew up on a dairy farm in Troy, and is now chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

40.  Democratic state Sen. Alton Waldon, who served briefly in Congress more than a decade ago, is running on the Independence and Conservative lines.