HD125 special: Ray Lopez and Fred Rangel appeared at a generally amicable campaign forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. The candidates differed on abortion, background checks for gun sales, the Trump Administration’s policy of separating families at the border and the Secretary of State’s efforts to identify non-citizens registered to vote. Early voting begins Monday and runs for five days. The March 12 election falls during San Antonio schools’ spring breaks.
Meanwhile, the San Antonio Express-News endorsed Lopez. The paper endorsed Coda Rayo-Garza for the January special election.
HD145 special: Through today (Thursday), the fourth day of early voting, a total of 948 voters have cast ballots, 604 in person and 344 by mail. Turnout so far is 1.3% with one day remaining in the early voting period. In January, it took nine days to reach that turnout figure.
HD28: Katy educator Eliz Markowitz reauthorized her campaign committee to challenge Rep. John Zerwas (R-Richmond) as a Democrat. Markowitz ran unsuccessfully for the Board of Education in 2018, losing 60%-40% to Matt Robinson (R).
HD107: Rep. Victoria Neave (D-Dallas) has been sued by several Dallas Co. taxing entities over $26K in unpaid property taxes. In a statement, Neave said she is working to resolve it. “Despite my best efforts to make payments, I take responsibility for falling behind,” she said, adding she was “working on settling the past due balance as soon as possible.” Neave said the taxes are owed on a property she has not occupied since 2015 and intends to sell.
Secretary of State: By a party-line 4-3 vote, the Senate Nominations Committee favorably reported the nomination of David Whitley as Secretary of State to the full Senate for confirmation.
SEN: Former San Antonio Mayor and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, who is running for president, said his brother, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio), is considering challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R). He would have to give up a safe seat in Congress and a role within what is currently the majority party to do so.
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