Nearly two dozen candidates filed for the May 1 special election to fill the unexpired term of the late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright (R-Arlington) by today’s deadline. The field includes 11 Republicans, 10 Democrats, a Libertarian and an independent candidate. Our Crib Sheet has been updated to reflect the final field.

Republicans

  • Michael Ballantine (R), Arlington educator who unsuccessfully sought the Green Party’s 2012 presidential nomination
  • John Anthony Castro (R), Mansfield tax attorney who formed campaign committee for a 2020 primary challenge of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R) but did not file
  • Mike Egan (R), Arlington financial executive
  • Jake Ellzey (R-Waxahachie), who was elected to his first House term in November after losing the 2018 Republican runoff to Wright, 52%-48%
  • Brian Harrison (R), Midlothian citizen who was a former U.S. Health and Human Services chief of staff and indicated on his ballot application that his profession was “swamp drainer”
  • Sery Kim (R), Arlington attorney and former U.S. Small Business Administration official
  • Travis Rodermund (R), Arlington police officer
  • Dan Rodimer (R), Mansfield business owner and former professional wrestler who lost a 2020 race for Congress in Nevada
  • Jenny Garcia Sharon (R), Austin volunteer caregiver who lost the 2020 race for CD35 (30%)
  • Michael Wood (R), Arlington business owner
  • Susan Wright (R), Arlington former legislative aide, State Republican Executive Committee member and Wright’s widow

Democrats

  • Tammy Allison (D), Grand Prairie attorney
  • Lydia Bean (D), Arlington sociologist who lost the 2020 race for HD93 (45%)
  • Daryl Eddings Sr. (D), Midlothian business owner
  • Matt Hinterlong (D), Dallas developer
  • Shawn Lassiter (D), Fort Worth educator who withdrew from a race for Fort Worth city council to seek this seat
  • Patrick Moses (D), Mansfield pastor and retired law enforcement
  • Manuel Salazar (D), Arlington real estate agent
  • Jana Lynne Sanchez (D), Waxahachie songwriter, who lost the 2018 race for this seat (45%)
  • Brian Stephenson (D), Houston systems engineer
  • Chris Suprun (D), Arlington paramedic and “faithless elector” who received 51 votes in the 2018 special election for CD27

Others

  • Phil Gray (L), Tyler property manager whose most recent campaign was for CD27 in 2020 (2%); and
  • Adrian Mizher (I), Kennedale banker.

The field fell one candidate short of the 24 candidates who ran in a 1993 special election for the unexpired term of former U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D).

Early voting begins April 19.

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Austin) endorsed Susan Wright.