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The U.S. Census form that goes to all households will not include a question about citizenship, the U.S. Justice Dept. confirmed. The decision comes days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Commerce Dept.’s rationale for including the question was “contrived.” The Commerce Dept. has ordered the form to be printed without the question as a deadline loomed to conduct the Census in a timely manner. A citizenship question has not been included on this standard form since 1950.

Civil rights advocates feared including the question would result in systematic undercounting of immigrant populations who may fear turning in the form. Because Texas has a high immigrant population relative to other states, undercounting that population could cost the state a Congressional district or two as well as billions in federal appropriations. Proponents of asking respondents’ citizenship status argued that the U.S. should have an accurate count of its non-citizen population.

Tripp Bryant

Tripp
Bryant

Rep. John Wray

Rep. John
Wray

HD10: Waxahachie Army veteran and former rancher Tripp Bryant announced he would challenge Rep. John Wray (R-Waxahachie) in the Republican primary. Bryant is the SD22 committeeman on the State Republican Executive Committee. He was twice deployed to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. Wray did not have a primary opponent in 2016 or 2018. He was first elected in 2014 after winning the Republican runoff over T.J. Fabby, 53%-47%.

HD54: Lampasas resident Nathan Berryhill established a campaign committee for a potential primary or Libertarian challenge of Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Salado). Berryhill’s LinkedIn account indicates the recent Univ. of Texas graduate is a Senate messenger.

TBD: Austin resident Robert Friedman established a campaign committee for a potential state race but did not appear to indicate which office he might seek. We were unable to identify him conclusively.

SEN: Former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell (D-Houston) established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R). Bell received less than 30% of the vote in the 2006 general election against then Gov. Rick Perry (R), and two independents in that race received more votes combined than Bell. He raised just under $6M for that race, of which $830K was raised before the Democratic primary.

Meanwhile, Democratic challenger M.J. Hegar announced her campaign raised more than $1M since April 23.

CD7: Republican challenger Wesley Hunt announced his campaign raised more than $500K in the second quarter.

CD10: Democratic challenger Shannon Hutcheson announced her campaign raised more than $300K in the first 40 days of her campaign.

CD32: U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Dallas) announced his campaign raised $575K during the second quarter, and he has $950K on hand.

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