The deadline to file for a place on the 2018 ballot is 6 p.m. local time today. Please see our Crib Sheets for candidates’ filing status. As far as we can tell, Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Barbara Hervey (R); Reps. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) and Dawnna Dukes (D-Austin); and State Board of Education member Erika Beltran (D-Dallas) have not yet filed for re-election. They may have already filed, but we have received any confirmation from the candidates or the parties.
GOV: Austin resident James Jolly Clark filed in the crowded Democratic primary to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott (R). He is at least the ninth Democrat to file for the race.
HD28: Katy software developer Durward White established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. John Zerwas (R-Richmond), likely as a Democrat.
HD54: Killeen real estate agent Kathy Richerson filed in the Democratic primary to challenge Rep. Scott Cosper (R-Killeen).
Spencer
Bounds
Rep. Tom
Craddick
HD82: Midland Democratic activist Spencer Bounds filed to challenge Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland) in the general election, becoming the first Democrat to seek the seat since 2008. His entry sets up one of the biggest age disparities between candidates. Bounds is one of the leaders of the Concho Valley Young Democrats. Craddick is the Dean of the House.
HD86: Amarillo retiree and State Democratic Executive Committee member Mike Purcell announced he would challenge Rep. John Smithee (R-Amarillo). Purcell is the first Democrat to seek the seat since 2008 and only the second Democrat to run since 1992.
HD109 open: Dallas business owner Victoria Walton filed in the Democratic primary for the seat being vacated by Rep. Helen Giddings (D-DeSoto).
HD117: San Antonio tax professional Mike Berlanga filed in the Republican primary to challenge Rep. Philip Cortez (D-San Antonio). Berlanga ran unsuccessfully for Bexar Co. Tax Assessor-Collector in 2016 (42%), and he unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio) in the 2012 race for SD19 (38%). He was an advisor and campaign coordinator for former Rep. John Garza (R-San Antonio).
HD134: Houston resident and perennial candidate Lloyd Wayne Oliver re-established his campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Sarah Davis (R-Houston). Oliver has run in every even-year election cycle since at least 2002, during which he:
- Unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Harris Co. District Attorney in in 2016 (21%) and 2014 (28%)
- Won the Democratic nomination for Harris Co. District Attorney in 2012 (52%) but lost the general election (48%)
- Unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Harris Co. Criminal Court No. 1 (35%)
- Unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for 174th District Judge in 2008 (44%)
- Unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for 183rd District Judge in 2006 (43%)
- Unsuccessfully challenged then-14th Court of Appeals Justice Eva Guzman in the 2004 Republican primary (29%)
- Unsuccessfully challenged 263rd District Judge Jim Wallace in the 2002 Republican primary (12%).
ED12 open: Dallas resident Tina Green filed in the Democratic primary for the seat being vacated by board member Tincy Miller (R-Dallas). Dallas resident Suzanne Smith established a campaign committee for the race, likely as a Democrat. Smith unsuccessfully sought the Dallas ISD D2 board seat in 2016 (27%). We were unable to identify Green conclusively.
CD33: Euless resident Willie Kailawn Billups established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth) as a Republican.
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