As the next election cycle begins, we already have some early front-runners who seem to be securing most of the early endorsements in the process.  Here is a quick review of them.

Governor - Insurance Commisioner Steve Poizner

After giving money out of his personal ank account to numerous Republican county parties and Republican clubs for voter registration and district organization he has secured numerous endorsements from key members of the congressional & state legislature delegations, as well as a number of locally elected "non-partisan" officials, despite being a moderate in the mold of Pete Wilson on numerous issues.  He has also secured the services of Republian organizer Stephen Frank who is coming off a narrow victories as campaign manager for Tony Strickland this past year.  Provided no one else with deep pockets or famously conservative pedegree (Darrell Issa?) enters the race, Poizner will probably face a bruised up Democrat who he can define in June of 2010 if not before.  Possible Democrat opponents include but are not limited to LA Mayor Antonio Villeraigosa, Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, Attorney General and fmr. Governor Jerry Brown, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, fmr. State Controller Steve Westley, SF Mayor Gavin Newsome & State Treasurer Bill Lockyer.  It is certain that many of these potential Gubernatorial candidates will opt to run for a lesser office like Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Treasurer, State Insurance Commissioner, or decide to stay put.  However, it is a certainty that the Democrat nomination for Governor will become a bruising battle that will give Steve Poisner a tremendous opportunity to win if he capitalizes on it.

U.S. Senate - Assemblyman Chuck Devore

With him being termed out of office in 2010, why not take on heavy weight Barbara Boxer?  His personal working class roots story of working his way through school as a union carpenter and then joining the U.S. military is an American dream story that would serve as a good counter point to a Senator who voted for an over budgeted Visitor's Center, so she and Harry Reid didn't have to smell the tourist.  He has made himself an expert on energy, veterans and military issues. Finally, he has lined up already a very large portion of the Republican Congressional and state legislature delegations as well as the endorsements of numerous locall elected "non-partisan" officials. 

Lieutenant Governor - State Senator Jeff Denham

After fending off a recall election sponsored by corrupt State Senate leader Don Perata.  This popular swing district conservative who represents a district ranging from the central valley to the Monterey coast, has experienced running in races where statistically the Democrats have an advantage.  His noteriety stems from his fiscal conservativism which given what he had to withstand probably merits a profile in courage.  He has already lined up significant numbers of colleagues from the Republican congressional & state legislative caucuses, and is putting together numerous local level endorsements from Republicans and some Democrats in locally elected "non-partisan" offices.  Given current Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi will be running for te Governor's office it is unclear who Jeff Denham will be facing in November 2010, should no other major Republican decide to run against him.

As other Republicans declared and then secure front-runner status based on who they hire and get endorsements from, I will add them to this list.