Sen. Pat Fallon (R-Prosper), who ousted longtime Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) in the 2018 Republican primary, announced he was exploring a primary challenge of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R) from the right. Fallon said he would meet with voters and Republican leaders over the next few days.
Sen. Pat
Fallon
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Fallon is not up for re-election until 2022, so this would be a “free” race for him. Fallon’s ability to self-fund – He kicked off his state Senate campaign by loaning it $1.8M – and appeal to more conservative factions within the party could make him Cornyn’s most difficult primary challenger since his 1998 run for attorney general.
Cleveland business owner and 2014 primary challenger Dwayne Stovall and Plano investment advisor Mark Yancey are already in the race. Cornyn was held under 60% of the vote in the 2014 primary by Stovall (19%), former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman (11%) and five other candidates. Cornyn received 81% and 77% of the vote in the 2008 and 2002 primary elections, respectively.
House Speaker: The Brazoria Co. Republican Party rejected a resolution calling for Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s (R-Angleton) resignation, reportedly by a vote of 9 votes for, 23 against.
HD8: Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine) announced he would seek re-election to a second term.
HD26: Rep. Rick Miller (R-Sugar Land) announced he would seek re-election to a fifth term and he has withdrawn his name from consideration as the next head of the Texas Dept. of Family and Protective Services.
HD79: Rep. Art Fierro (D-El Paso) announced he would seek re-election to a second term.
CD13: U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) was noncommittal about seeking re-election in a televised interview, saying he would make an announcement “before too long.” Thornberry, who was first elected in 1994, is term-limited as the top Republican member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. He raised $206K during the second quarter and had just over $700K on hand as of June 30.
The district contains much of SD31, currently held by Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) and all or significant portions of HD68, held by Rep. Drew Springer (R-Muenster); HD69, held by Rep. James Frank (R-Wichita Falls); HD86, held by Rep. John Smithee (R-Amarillo); and HD87, held by Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo); and half of HD88, held by Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian). The district is overwhelmingly Republican.
CD28: Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) endorsed Jessica Cisernos, primary opponent of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo). Warren also endorsed the primary challenger of a Democratic incumbent from Illinois.
Houston: The campaign of Mayor Sylvester Turner released a new ad, “Noise,” attacking rival Tony Buzbee’s ties to President Trump.
Bowie Co.: County Judge James Carlow announced he was retiring, effective September 30. First elected in 1986, Carlow served all but four years of the years since as county judge, first as a Democrat (1987-2011), then as a Republican (2015-2019). He was re-elected to a four-year term in November.
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