SD19: U.S. District Judge Alan Ezra denied a request from Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio) to dismiss one of the nearly two dozen criminal charges against him. Uresti sought to have a charge of failure to register as a securities broker dismissed. Uresti also faces charges of securities fraud and wire fraud. His trial is scheduled to begin on October 23. Another trial on an unrelated charge is expected to occur early next year. Uresti is not up for re-election until 2020.

HD99: Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) announced he would seek re-election.

House Speaker: A five-member committee has been selected to study the process of electing the House’s presiding officer and will report its recommendations to the Republican caucus in 30 days. The committee is comprised of Reps. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi), Jeff Leach (R-Plano), Chris Paddie (R-Marshall) and John Smithee (R-Amarillo)m according to Quorum Report. Leach was among the signatories of a House Freedom Caucus letter to Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound), chair of the Republican caucus, requesting changes in the process of electing the Speaker.

SEN: Former Corpus Christi Mayor Dan McQueen, who resigned 37 days into his term earlier this year, said he will run in the Republican primary against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R). We previously reported that McQueen was running for Senate, but he had not publicly declared the path he intended to take. He said he will gather petitions in lieu of paying a filing fee. Houston attorney Stefano de Stefano is also campaigning for the Republican nomination.

El Paso Co.: Commissioners chose Ruben Vogt, longtime chief of staff to County Judge Veronica Escobar, to succeed her in the position. Vogt also served as an aide to former Sen. Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso). Escobar resigned to run for CD16.

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