SD8: Angela Paxton, a Plano guidance counselor and wife of Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton, is considering running for the seat being vacated by Sen. Van Taylor (R-Plano) as a Republican, multiple outlets reported. Reps. Jodie Laubenberg (R-Wylie), Jeff Leach (R-Plano), Scott Sanford (R-McKinney) and Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) – all from Collin Co. – indicated they would support Paxton if she entered the race, reported the Texas Tribune’s Patrick Svitek. Already in the race is businessman Phillip Huffines, brother of Sen. Don Huffines (R-Dallas). Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford) has endorsed Huffines. Leach and Shaheen both considered the race but have opted to seek re-election to their HD67 and HD66 seats, respectively. Ken Paxton represented SD8 for two years before being elected to his current position.

HD88: Perryton insurance agent Jason Huddleston announced he would challenge Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) in the Republican primary.

Sen. Van Taylor

Sen. Van
Taylor

CD3: Sen. Van Taylor (R-Plano) established a campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Plano). Taylor’s entry into the race has been long expected.

CD16: El Paso Co. County Judge Veronica Escobar has scheduled a “special announcement” for Saturday, which many expect to be the formal kickoff of her campaign to succeed U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso), who is running for U.S. Senate.

CD23: San Antonio former prosecutor Jay Hulings told the Texas Tribune that he will seek the Democratic nomination against U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-San Antonio). Meanwhile, San Antonio educator and former city council candidate Rick Treviño announced he would seek the Democratic nomination.

CD25: Chetan Panda established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of U.S. Rep. Roger Williams (R-Austin) as a Democrat. We previously reported that Panda had launched a web site and created an ActBlue fundraising page.

See our 2018 Challengers page for all 249 challengers and open-seat candidates who we confirm have taken a formal step toward running for state and federal office from Texas in 2018.

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