Filing for the 2020 election is underway. Our Crib Sheets have up-to-date filing status of the candidates we are tracking. At least 141 candidates have already filed.
HD51: Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) announced he would seek re-election to a 10th term.
HD74 open: Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu is expected to announce he will seek the seat being vacated by Rep. Poncho Nevárez (D-Eagle Pass) as a Democrat. Cantu was elected mayor in 2010 and re-elected in 2012 and 2016. He is term-limited.
TRL Scorecard: Twenty-three Republican members of the House and all 18 Republican senators received 100% scores on Texas Right to Life’s 2019 legislative scorecard. Forty-three House Republicans scored below 70%, including Rep. Sarah Davis (R-Houston), who received a 0% rating, lower than four Democrats in the chamber. Forty-four House Republicans who have served at least two terms received career-low scores this year (The scorecard goes back to 2011.). “Texas Right to Life’s methodology accurately portrays the disappointing nature of the legislative session,” the group said in a post explaining its methodology.
Texas Right to Life PAC has become an increasingly prominent player in Republican races in recent years. The PAC spent $2.9M during the 2017-18 election cycle after spending $791K in 2015-16 and $378K in 2013-14.
CD13 open: The Chris Ekstrom campaign released a new ad, “Enough,” tying his political outsider status to President Trump.
Austin: Council member Delia Garza announced she would not seek re-election, fueling rumors that she will soon be announcing a bid for Travis County Attorney, which will be an open seat following the retirement of David Escamilla. If she were to make such an announcement prior to November 30, she would automatically resign from the council. An announcement made on or after that date would permit her to serve her remaining term.
Midland ISD: A $569M dollar bond election that appeared to pass by 12 votes on Election Night and 18 votes after final mail-in ballots were counted actually failed by 25 votes. The Midland Co. elections office, which struggled with voting tabulation issues all night, published an incorrect set of numbers that failed to account for early ballots by mail.
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