Filing for a place on the 2018 continues until 6 p.m. local time on December 11. Please see our Crib Sheets for candidates’ filing status.
AGRIC: Spring resident Richard Carpenter established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Comm. Sid Miller (R) likely as a Libertarian.
HD15 open: The Woodlands environmental manager Ron Keichline established a campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Mark Keough (R-The Woodlands), likely as a Democrat.
HD18: Liberty resident Frederick Lemond established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd). We were unable to determine his party affiliation.
Rep. Ron Reynolds
HD27: A three-judge appellate court upheld a 2014 misdemeanor conviction of barratry against Rep. Ron Reynolds (D-Missouri City), who will appeal the ruling. Reynolds has maintained his innocence throughout the legal process. Since the conviction, Reynolds has lost his law license, been ordered to pay a $504K judgment in a civil case, filed for bankruptcy and been sued by the Office of Attorney General for delinquent fines owed to the Texas Ethics Commission for failing to file campaign finance reports and personal financial statements. He also not filed a campaign finance report in nearly two years. Reynolds said he intends to seek a fifth term but has not yet filed for re-election, as far as we can tell. In 2016, he was forced into a primary runoff but prevailed. Missouri City attorney Wilvin Carter has filed to challenge Reynolds in the Democratic primary.
HD133: Houston resident and frequent candidate Sam Tejas filed as a Democrat to challenge Rep. Jim Murphy (R-Houston). We previously reported that he had re-established his campaign committee and incorrectly thought he would run as a Republican. He has run as a Republican three times since 2002 and as a Democrat once.
ED12: Board member Tincy Miller announced she would not seek re-election. She returned to the board in 2013 following a two-year absence. Miller previously served on the board from 1985 until 2011.
CD6 open: Tarrant Co. Tax Assessor-Collector Ron Wright (R) has resigned to run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Ennis).
CD27: Texas Water Development Board Chair Bech Bruun released a statement criticizing U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Corpus Christi) over reports that taxpayer funds may have been used to settle a sexual harassment complaint against him. Bruun added that he would announce his intentions about potentially entering the race next week. Farenthold filed for re-election prior to the news reports about the settlement.
CD29 open: Beaumont health care executive Tahir Javed announced he would seek the Democratic nomination for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Gene Green (D-Houston). Meanwhile, Rep. Ana Hernandez (D-Houston) endorsed Sen. Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston).
Nueces Co.: Former County Clerk Diana Barrera (D) announced she would seek a rematch against incumbent Kara Sands (R). Barrera served for 10 years before Sands narrowly defeated her, 50.6%-49.4%, in 2014.
Webb Co.: Tax Assessor-Collector Patricia Barrera (D) has resigned to challenge incumbent Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina (D) in the Democratic primary.
Alice: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a proclamation permitting the city to hold emergency special elections on January 20 to fill the seats vacated by the recalls of Elida Garza and Yolanda Sosa Moran. Their recalls leave two council members and the mayor, who do not constitute a quorum under the city’s charter. Absent Abbott’s intervention, the city could not hold the election, and thus not conduct any official business, until May.
©2017 Texas Election Source
