Early Voting for the March 6 primary begins in 55 days.
HD25: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) endorsed Rep. Dennis Bonnen (R-Angleton) for re-election.
HD80: Former Webb County Judge Danny Valdez has filed suit with the Third Court of Appeals to have his name included on the Democratic primary ballot. Valdez announced in October that he would challenge Rep. Tracy King (D-Batesville) in the Democratic primary, and Valdez posted a photo of him signing his candidacy paperwork to his campaign’s Facebook page on November 21. Valdez said he mailed his application to appear on the ballot to an incorrect address listed on the Secretary of State’s web site, and thus his application was not timely filed.
HD138: Houston author Demetrius Walker established a campaign committee and announced he would challenge Rep. Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston), but both of those actions occurred after the filing deadline, indicating he is either running as an independent or a write-in candidate.
Republican Pledges: At least 35 of the 83 incumbent Republican representatives seeking re-election have not signed the Republican Party of Texas’s pledge to support the caucus’s chosen Speaker candidate, based on information posted on the state party’s web site: Reps. Doc Anderson, Trent Ashby, Ernest Bailes*, Cecil Bell Jr., Dennis Bonnen*, Greg Bonnen, DeWayne Burns, Giovanni Capriglione*, Travis Clardy*, John Cyrier, Drew Darby, Sarah Davis*, Jay Dean, Charlie Geren*, Justin Holland, Dan Huberty*, Kyle Kacal, Ken King*, Linda Koop*, John Kuempel, Stan Lambert, Brooks Landgraf, Lyle Larson*, Rick Miller, Geanie Morrison, Andrew Murr, Chris Paddie*, Dade Phelan, Four Price*, John Raney, Phil Stephenson, Ed Thompson, Gary VanDeaver, John Wray and John Zerwas.
* indicates the incumbent has at least one primary opponent who has signed the pledge.
Virginia: The State Board of Elections has postponed its drawing for lots that would decide a tied election for a House of Delegates seat. “Drawing names is a last resort,” said the board’s chair in a statement. “Any substantive concerns regarding the election or recount should be resolved before a random drawing is conducted.” On election night, it appeared that the Republican incumbent had won a narrow re-election. A recount reversed the outcome, giving the Democrat a one-vote win. A few days later, a three-judge panel re-examined one ballot and determined it was a vote for the Republican, tying the race. The outcome of the race determines control of the chamber and greatly influences the election of the speaker. If the Republican wins, the party retains a narrow 51-49 majority. A Democrat win evenly splits the chamber, 50-50.
©2017 Texas Election Source LLC
