Filing for the 2020 primary elections and nominating conventions continues through December 9. We expect the week of Thanksgiving to be a fairly quiet one.
HD3: Montgomery resident Martin Shupp established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Cecil Bell Jr. (R-Magnolia). Social media activity suggests he would run as a Democrat.
HD22: Beaumont university student and Republican precinct chair Jacorion Randle established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Joe Deshotel (D-Beaumont). Randle is chair of the Golden Triangle Young Republicans.
HD25 open: Bay City Chamber of Commerce president Mitch Thames re-established a campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by Speaker Dennis Bonnen (R-Angleton) as a Republican.
HD78: El Paso computer programmer Jeff Lane filed as a Republican for a third challenge of Rep. Joe Moody (D-El Paso). Lane received 37% and 35% of the vote in the 2016 and 2018 general elections, respectively.
HD86: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) endorsed Rep. John Smithee (R-Amarillo) for re-election.
SEN: Harper resident Virgin Bierschwale filed to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R) in the Republican primary, becoming at least the third primary challenger to file so far.
CD13 open: Amarillo residents Jason Foglesong and Richard Herman established campaign committees for potential runs for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) as Republicans.
CD17 open: Bryan-College Station-area University administrator Todd Kent filed as a Republican for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Bill Flores (R-Bryan). Kent served as a faculty member and assistant dean of Texas A&M’s Doha, Qatar campus from 2006 to 2015. He is at least the fifth Republican to file for the seat.
College Station council member Elianor Vessali established a campaign committee for the race as a Republican. Vessali was elected to the council in 2018.
CD23 open: San Antonio community health worker Ricardo Madrid filed and established a campaign committee to run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-San Antonio) as a Democrat.
TBD: Bastrop software developer Madeline Eden updated her state campaign committee but did not indicate an office sought. Eden unsuccessfully sought the 2018 Democratic nomination for CD10 (14%). Bastrop Co. is located within HD17, which is currently held by Rep. John Cyrier (R-Lockhart).
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