CD2 open: Kingwood property management executive Rick Walker established a campaign committee for a possible race for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ted Poe (R-Humble) as a Republican. Meanwhile, Waverly, N.Y., caterer Mike Palmer established a campaign committee for the race.

Lizzie Pannill Fletcher

Lizzie Pannill Fletcher

U.S. Rep. John Culberson

U.S. Rep. John Culberson

CD7: Emily’s List endorsed Lizzie Pannill Fletcher in the Democratic primary. Meanwhile, a poll conducted for Patriot Majority – a liberal dark money group – shows U.S. Rep. John Culberson (R-Houston) trailing a generic Democratic opponent by 10 points. The poll was conducted by Public Policy Polling, but no other information about the poll was provided. Culberson won re-election in 2016 with 56% of the vote, and Republicans had a 17,534-vote advantage in straight-party voting.

CD16 open: El Paso college professor Jerome Tilghman filed as a Democrat for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke. Tilghman received 3% of the vote in the five-way 2012 primary O’Rourke won outright with 50% of the vote, ousting longtime U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-El Paso), who received 44%.

CD21 open: Following an “intensive exploratory effort,” former Olmos Park council member Jeff Judson said he would not seek the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-San Antonio). “Although I am confident we could win the CD21 race,” Judson said in a statement, “Holding office in Washington, D.C., was not the best decision for our family right now.” His statement did not address whether Judson is still considering running for open HD121. He unsuccessfully challenged Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) in the 2016 Republican primary.

CD29 open: We cover candidate announcements here.

CD32: A poll conducted for the national group Patriot Majority shows U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) trailing a generic Democratic opponent by 5 points. The poll was conducted by Public Policy Polling, but no other information about the poll was provided. Sessions did not face a Democratic opponent in 2016. Any Democratic opponent then would have faced a 12,579-vote disadvantage in straight-party voting.

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