See our 2018 Challengers page for all 164 challengers and open seat candidates who we confirm have taken a formal step toward running for state and federal office from Texas in 2018.
GOV: Plano landscape and construction business owner Danny Harrison announced via Facebook his primary challenge of Gov. Greg Abbott (R). We reported last month that he filed a campaign treasurer appointment for the race, but his political affiliation was unclear.
RRC: Denton architect and historic preservation officer Roman McAllen filed paperwork establishing a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Comm. Christi Craddick (R) as a Democrat. In April, McAllen established a federal campaign committee for a potential challenge of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R). He previously announced he would run against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R) in 2014 but did not ultimately enter the race.
SD31: Former Midland Mayor Mike Canon has updated his campaign committee for a primary rematch against Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo). Canon lost the 2014 Republican primary to Seliger, 53%-47%. Last month, we reported he announced for the seat.
HD47: Leander business consultant Will Simpson filed paperwork establishing a campaign committee and set up an ActBlue page for a potential challenge of Rep. Paul Workman (R-Austin) as a Democrat.
HD65: Carrollton pet store owner Michelle Beckley filed paperwork establishing a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton) as a Democrat. We previously reported that she created an ActBlue page for the race.
HD108: Dallas university adjunct professor and Latina activist Joanna Cattanach filed paperwork establishing a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas) as a Democrat.
Terry
Sain
Rep. Briscoe
Cain
HD128: Baytown environmental engineer and council member Terry Sain has filed a campaign treasurer appointment for a potential challenge of Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park). Sain was first elected to the council in 2008. In 2016, he endorsed former Rep. Wayne Smith (R-Baytown), who Cain ousted by 23 votes in that year’s runoff election.
HD134: Houston oil and gas safety executive Allison Sawyer filed paperwork establishing a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Sarah Davis (R-Houston) as a Democrat.
SEN: Pasadena business owner and self-described “Berniecrat” Sema Hernandez has established a federal campaign committee for a potential challenge of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R) as a Democrat.
CD3: Plano resident Samuel H. Johnson has established a federal campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Plano) as a Democrat. The men are not related as far as we can tell.
CD17: Pflugerville behavioral scientist Dale Mantey filed paperwork establishing a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Flores as a Democrat. Mantey was a health policy analyst for former Rep. Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio) during the 2013 legislative session. Also, New Braunfels paramedic Scott Sturm updated his federal campaign committee for a potential challenge of U.S. Rep. Bill Flores (R-Bryan) as a Democrat. We previously reported he filed paperwork for a run in CD21 and later set up a CrowdPAC page for the CD17 race.
CD24: Hurst resident (Edward Charles) Todd Allen (D) formed a campaign committee for a potential challenge of U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-Carrollton) as a Democrat.
©2017 Texas Election Source
