Ex-senator, war veteran headed to a runoff

AUSTIN, TX Former Republican state Sen. David Sibley is trying to retake the seat he held for 11 years. He led during much of Saturday's special election, but no candidate in the four-way race earned more than 50 percent of the vote to secure the seat.

Brian Birdwell came in closest to Sibley, trailing by more than 2,500 votes with all precincts reporting. Birdwell also is a Republican and survived the Sept. 11 terrorist attack at the Pentagon.

The candidates are vying to serve out the remainder of Republican Sen. Kip Averitt's term following his resignation. The seat includes 10 counties stretching from Waco to the outskirts of Fort Worth.