Voter ID: Oral arguments before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals have been scheduled for the first week of December. The state has appealed a lower court decision ruling that invalidated the state’s Voter ID law and determined that legislation passed during the regular session did not cure the intentional discrimination contained in the original Voter ID law. That ruling has been stayed pending the appeal, permitting the state to enforce the Voter ID law during the November 2017 election.
Rep. Gary VanDeaver
HD1: Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) announced he would seek re-election.
HD14: Rep. John Raney (R-College Station) announced he would seek re-election.
HD47: Austin union executive director and former legislative aide Elaina Fowler established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Paul Workman (R-Austin) as a Democrat. Fowler served as chief of staff to Rep. Helen Giddings (D-Dallas) before and during the 2015 legislative session. She is at least the fifth Democrat to take a formal step toward challenging Workman, joining Austin nurse Candace Aylor, Austin real estate agent Vikki Goodwin, Leander business consultant Will Simpson and Austin nonprofit executive Sheri Soltes.
HD52: Round Rock education nonprofit executive James Talarico announced he would run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Larry Gonzales (R-Round Rock). We previously reported that Talarico formed a campaign committee for the race.
CD23: Judy Canales, a former U.S. Dept. of Agriculture appointee from Eagle Pass, is reportedly in final preparation to launch her campaign for the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-San Antonio).
Milano: City council members Henry Dykes and Carol Newman have resigned. The council has called a special election for November 7 to fill their unexpired terms.
Parker Co.: U.S. Rep. Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth) endorsed Hudson Oaks Mayor Pat Deen for Parker County Judge.
Sherman: The city council appointed former council member Willie Steele to replace Kevin Couch, who resigned to challenge Rep. Larry Phillips (R-Sherman) in the Republican primary. Steele will serve until a successor is elected in the November general election or a December runoff.
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