As of the end of the day (Friday), there are just three incumbents that we expect are seeking re-election for whom we have not seen a confirmation that they have filed:
- Statewide: none
- Senate: none
- House: none
- Congress: U.S. Reps. Colin Allred (D-Dallas), Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) and Ron Wright (R-Arlington).
At least 541 people have filed as a Democrat or Republican for federal, statewide and legislative office in Texas. We have not seen any candidate lists from the Libertarian or Green Parties. Monday is the deadline for candidates to file for a spot on the primary ballot or to be considered for nomination at a minor party convention. Our Crib Sheets have the latest information on who we can confirm has filed as the deadline approaches.
In a number of cases below, we indicate that we could not identify a candidate “conclusively.” Longtime readers will know we use this expression anytime that we cannot find sufficient information online about a candidate to determine who he or she is with sufficient certainty, as we do not want to mis-identify someone. As the deadline approaches, a larger number of candidates will appear for whom available information is incomplete at best, and what’s missing depends on the source of the information. For example, the Republican Party of Texas has an online candidate list, but it includes only names and office sought. The Texas Ethics Commission has information on hometown and office sought, but not party. Information posted on the Secretary of State’s website at times is missing a hometown or an occupation.
We try our best to sort through it and provide you with the most accurate and complete information. We appreciate your patience as the deadline approaches. Historically, up to a third of all candidates will file in the next three days.
RRC: An individual named James Wright filed to challenge Comm. Ryan Sitton (R) in the Republican primary. We were unable to identify him conclusively. Former Rep. Roberto Alonzo (D-Dallas) filed as a Democrat. Alonzo served 10 non-consecutive terms from HD104 before being defeated in the 2018 Democratic primary by current Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas), 63%-37%.
SC7: Dallas resident William Strange updated his campaign committee for a potential challenge of Justice Jeff Boyd (R) as a Libertarian. He is a six-time Libertarian statewide judicial nominee.
SC8: Beaumont resident Tom Oxford updated his campaign committee for a potential challenge of Justice Brett Busby (R). He is a seven-time Libertarian nominee for the Supreme Court, last running in 2016 (3%).
SD1: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) endorsed Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) for re-election.
SD11: Houston project engineer Jared Wissel established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Sen. Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) as a Libertarian.
SD12: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) endorsed Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) for re-election.
SD18: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) endorsed Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) for re-election.
SD29 open: El Paso health associate David Marino established a campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by Sen. Jose Rodriguez (D-El Paso) as a Libertarian.
HD9: An individual named Mark Williams filed to challenge Rep. Chris Paddie (R-Marshall) in the Republican primary. We were unable to identify him conclusively. It is possible this could be the candidate who unsuccessfully challenged then-Rep. Tommy Merritt (R-Longview) in the 2006 Republican primary (42%).
HD12: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) endorsed Rep. Kyle Kacal (R-College Station) for re-election.
HD22: Richmond resident Cristo Fernandez established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Joe Deshotel (D-Beaumont). We were unable to identify him conclusively.
HD26 open: U.S. Rep. Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) endorsed Jacey Jetton (R) to succeed the retiring Rep. Rick Miller (R-Sugar Land).
HD33: Farmersville management consultant Andrew Rose established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Justin Holland (R-Heath). We were unable to determine his partisan affiliation.
HD71: Abilene rural activist and 2018 Democratic nominee Sam Hatton filed for a rematch against Rep. Stan Lambert (R-Abilene), who defeated Hatton, 78%-22%, in the general election.
HD83: Lubbock university professor James Barrick established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) as a Democrat.
HD92 open: Euless accountant Chris Hibbard established a campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford) as a Libertarian. As far as we can tell, HD92 is the first district to have candidates running from each of the four established political parties in the state.
HD100 special: Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso) endorsed Lorraine Birabil.
HD105: Grand Prairie nonprofit director Gerson Hernandez established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Terry Meza (D-Irving) as a Republican.
HD113: The campaign of Republican challenger Will Douglas announced he raised more than $100K in the six weeks since he launched his bid to unseat Rep. Rhetta Bowers (D-Rowlett).
HD116: San Antonio resident Tammy Orta established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D-San Antonio). We were unable to identify her concluslively.
HD122: San Antonio resident Dianira Salazar Aluko established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Lyle Larson (R-San Antonio), likely as a Democrat.
HD126: Houston minister and unsuccessful 2018 Democratic candidate Undrai Fizer filed to challenge Rep. Sam Harless (R-Spring) as a Democrat. Fizer lost the Democratic primary to Natali Hurtado, 78%-22%. She has previously filed for the Democratic primary.
HD128: Crossing guard Mary Williams filed as a Democrat to challenge Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park). We were unable to identify her further.
HD129: Houston resident Taylor Pond established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Dennis Paul (R-Webster). We were unable to identify the candidate conclusively.
HD131: Houston resident Xochytl Greer established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Alma Allen (D-Houston). We were unable to identify her conclusively.
HD139: Houston housing advocate Angeanette Thibodeaux filed to challenge Rep. Jarvis Johnson (D-Houston) in the Democratic primary.
SEN: Midland council member John Love III has ended his campaign for the Democratic nomination.
CD7: An individual named Kyle Preston filed as a Republican to challenge U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Houston). We were unable to identify him conclusively.
CD13 open: Burkburnett businessman and Wichita Co. Comm. Lee Harvey, Spur resident Matt McArthur, Bowie educator Mark Neese filed as Republicans to run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon), bringing the field of filed Republican candidates to 12. Harvey was first elected to the Commissioners Court in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.
Austin resident Catherine I Swear established a campaign committee for the race as a Republican.
CD17 open: An individual named Laurie McReynolds filed as a Republican to run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Bill Flores (R-Bryan). We were unable to identify her conclusively.
CD31: An individual named Christopher Wall filed to challenge U.S. Rep. John Carter (R-Round Rock) in the Republican primary. We were unable to identify him conclusively.
CD33: Dallas political activist Sean Paul Segura filed to challenge U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth) in the Democratic primary.
CD34: Harlingen former university professor and two-time Republican nominee Rey Gonzalez filed for another rematch against U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Brownsville). An individual named Rod Lingsch also filed as a Republican. We were unable to identify him conclusively.
PRES: San Diego, Calif. Resident “Rocky” De la Fuente Guerra has filed for both the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries.
El Paso: Council member Sam Morgan has been charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon arising from an October domestic dispute.
Houston: Runoff campaign finance reports were due today (Friday). Mayor Sylvester Turner reported raising $1.7M and spending $1.7M between October 27 and December 4. He has $598K on hand. Challenger Tony Buzbee gave his campaign $2.3M and spent $3.1M during the period. He has $524K on hand.
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