Early voting in person begins Monday.
PRES: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram editorial board did not endorse a candidate but recommended “rejecting Donald Trump for president.”
AG: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has re-filed civil charges against AG Ken Paxton. Two weeks ago, the commission’s initial case was thrown out by a federal district judge because it failed to show that Paxton broke any disclosure laws. The amended charges include evidence not previously included in the first set of charges.
HD117: The San Antonio Express-News endorsed Rep. Rick Galindo (R-San Antonio).
Rep. Laura Thompson
HD120: Rep. Laura Thompson (I-San Antonio) turned herself in to local authorities because of an outstanding 2013 warrant for a Class A misdemeanor charge of assault with bodily injury to a family member. Thompson proclaimed her innocence and is out on bond. She was unaware of the warrant until earlier this week. We previously reported that Thompson failed to qualify as an independent candidate for the general election ballot based on (accurate) information provided at the time by the Secretary of State’s office. That office later reversed its decision to disqualify Thompson and certified her for the ballot. Thompson successfully fought a lawsuit filed by the Bexar Co. Democratic Party to have her removed from the ballot. She faces Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, a Democrat.
CD16: The El Paso Times endorsed U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso).
CD23: The El Paso Times endorsed U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-San Antonio). The paper previously endorsed former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) for the seat in 2012 and 2014.
Meanwhile, the Gallego campaign released a new ad accusing Hurd of “going Washington” and not protecting Texas families.
I will work to protect what makes the #AmericanDream possible for #TX23, because @WillHurd won't
Please enjoy a sneak peek of our newest ad pic.twitter.com/I9upKlwGDL
— Pete Gallego (@petegallego) October 21, 2016
Party Switch: District Judge Lauren Parish announced she would leave the Republican Party and rejoin the Democrat Party, becoming the second elected judge to do so in two weeks. Parish was first elected in 1995 as a Democrat and re-elected as a Democrat four times before running as a Republican in 2014. She is not up for re-election this year. The 115th Judicial District is comprised by Marion and Upshur Cos. in East Texas.
