Dear Subscriber,
A few things we wanted to share with you today:
CD8: Former Rep. Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands) announced he was running in the Republican primary against U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands). Two other Republicans are already in the race.
CD15: Two current Texas House members said they would not run to succeed the retiring U.S. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-Edinburg). In a tweet, Rep. Terry Canales (D-Premont) said, “I do not plan to run for Congress. I remain focused on serving my constituents in District 40.” Meanwhile, Rep. Bobby Guerra (D-Mission) filed for re-election.
Rep. Susan King
SD24: Two candidates suspended their campaigns, and another returned to the race after a brief absence. Rep. Susan King (R-Abilene) announced she was suspending her campaign while she receives inpatient medical treatment for depression. Campaign spokesman Bryan Eppstein said she will not make a final decision about the race until closer to the filing deadline. “If she’s cleared [by doctors] for the campaign, she will run to win,” Eppstein said. Meanwhile, Tea Party candidate CJ Grisham announced he was withdrawing from the race and endorsed Brent Mayes. Grisham said he did not “want to risk splitting the constitutional conservative, Tea Party vote … [and] giving this seat back to moderates.” Elsewhere, Jon Cobb resumed his campaign after taking several weeks off to heal with his family following his wife’s miscarriage.
HD13: Carmine military retiree Cecil Webster filed as a Democrat to challenge Rep. Leighton Schubert (R-Caldwell). Webster received 13% in the 2015 special election for the seat.
HD40: McAllen insurance agent Abraham Padron filed a CTA for a House race but did not indicate a district. He considered running for HD40 in 2012, but this filing could be for an adjacent race, especially if a sitting House member were to leave a seat open to run for the open CD15 seat.
HD95: Republican Bert McDaniel filed a revised CTA for a rematch against Rep. Nicole Collier (D-Fort Worth), who defeated McDaniel, 76%-24%, in the 2014 general election.
HD115: Sen. Don Huffines (R-Dallas) endorsed Rep. Matt Rinaldi (R-Irving).
HD118: Gov. Abbott set the special runoff election between John Lujan III and Tomas Uresti for January 26. Early voting runs January 18-22.
HD120: Youth center director Barbara Gervin Hawkins and Bexar Co. Justice of the Peace Byron Miller filed for the race to succeed the retiring Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon (D-San Antonio). At least three other candidates have announced plans to runs.
HD147: Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) filed for re-election.
HD149: Former Houston mayoral candidate Demetria Smith filed a CTA for what we expect would be a primary challenge against Rep. Hubert Vo (D-Houston). Smith received less than 1% of the vote in her mayoral campaign.
Houston Mayor: The Bill King campaign said former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell will endorse him on Tuesday in what would be an interesting political move for the former Democratic gubernatorial nominee. Meanwhile, the King and Sylvester Turner campaigns released new TV and radio ads. King’s ad calls Turner a “career politician” and highlights their differences on taxes and pension reform. Turner’s ad says King is “just too extreme for Houston.” The runoff is December 12.
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