Filing for partisan nomination or an independent candidacy for the 2022 general election continues through December 13.

AG (Lean R): U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tyler) filed to challenge Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton (R) in the primary, joining Land Comm. George P. Bush (R) and former Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman (R).

SD16 (Safe D): Dallas commercial real estate associate Brandon R. Copeland established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Sen. Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas). We were unable to determine his partisan affiliation conclusively.

HD12 (Safe R): Huntsville businessman Ben Bius announced he will mount a primary challenge of Rep. Kyle Kacal (R-College Station). Bius unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for SD5 in 2010 (32%), losing to then-Sen. Steve Ogden (R-Bryan), and 2012 (26%), losing to Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown). He won the Republican nomination for HD18 in 2000 but lost the general election to then-Rep. Dan Ellis (D-Livingston), 51%-49%. Bius unsuccessfully sought the 1996 Republican nomination for CD2 (13%).

HD17 open (Safe R): Smithville attorney and council member Stan Gerdes announced he would seek the seat being vacated by Rep. John Cyrier (R-Lockhart) as a Republican. Gerdes was a senior advisor for U.S. Energy Sec. Rick Perry during the Trump Administration after working for Perry when he was governor. Gerdes was first elected to the Smithville city council in a May special election.

HD22 open (Likely D): Beaumont executive assistant and Jefferson Co. Democratic chair Joseph P. Trahan established a campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Joe Deshotel (D-Beaumont).

HD65 open (Likely R): Carrollton university program director and social worker Brittney Verdell established a campaign committee and a Twitter handle for an open Denton Co. seat. We could not determine her political affiliation conclusively.

CD32 (Safe D): Dallas commercial real estate consultant Ejike Okpa established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Dallas) as a Republican. He is at least the ninth Republican to take a formal step toward entering the race for what was a swing seat prior to redistricting.