Voter ID: U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos sided with the Voter ID suit plaintiffs who argued that state election officials were misleading voters about court-ordered remedies to the Voter ID law. She ordered the state to accurately describe the procedures a voter lacking required photo identification can follow in order to cast a ballot in the upcoming election.

SEN: Speaking on The Laura Ingraham Show today, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and other Republicans who refuse to endorse Donald Trump “will be left in the rear-view mirror of the Republican Party moving forward.” Patrick was recently named chair of Trump’s campaign in Texas. He previously chaired Cruz’s campaign efforts in Texas.

Laura Ingraham: There are Republicans who still haven’t endorsed Trump. My question to you is, what is Ted Cruz waiting for?

Dan Patrick: Well, I don’t know. You know, I stay loyal to my friends, and Ted’s a friend, but obviously I’m disappointed and said so after the convention, and I’m hoping there’s still time for him to come forward or I think he and all the other people you named will be left in the rear-view mirror of the Republican Party going forward. So I’m hoping Ted comes forward. I’m visiting with him on that issue, of course.”

Patrick and U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Austin) have been mentioned as potential challengers to Cruz in 2018. A Cruz spokesman said the senator has no comment on Patrick’s remarks. Cruz recently reiterated his decision not to endorse Trump following a meeting with VP nominee Mike Pence.

CD23: A new ad from the National Republican Campaign Committee accuses former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) of lobbying “after you fired him.” A spokeswoman for the Gallego campaign denied the claim, adding “He has not worked in Washington since he left office.”

 

The ad follows a pair of ads from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee tying Hurd to Trump on veterans’ issues and calls for deportation. The latter ad is in Spanish.

 

 

A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-San Antonio) said the Gallego campaign’s ad putting “our nation’s veterans into the political fray … is a disgusting and desperate attack.”

RRC open: The Dallas Morning News and San Antonio Express-News endorsed Libertarian Mark Miller, who was previously endorsed by the Houston Chronicle. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick endorsed former Rep. Wayne Christian (R-Center).

SC5: The Dallas Morning News endorsed challenger Dori Contreras Garza.

CCA: The Dallas Morning News endorsed incumbent Michael Keasler for Place 6, challenger Mary Lou Keel for Place 2 and Scott Walker for open Place 5.

SD24 open: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick endorsed Dawn Buckingham.

HD105: Annie’s List endorsed challenger Terry Meza. Gov. Greg Abbott headlined a fundraiser in support of Rep. Rodney Anderson (R-Grand Prairie) and fellow Dallas Co. Reps. Cindy Burkett (R-Sunnyvale), Linda Koop (R-Dallas) and Kenneth Sheets (R-Dallas).

ED9 open: The Dallas Morning News endorsed Keven Ellis, the Republican candidate.

Austin: Council member Don Zimmerman’s campaign released a new ad comparing his achievements in office to “Subsidized Don Zimmerman.”