SD19 special: Sensing opportunity in a low-turnout election, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) and U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R) and Ted Cruz (R) endorsed Pete Flores. The Patrick campaign said it is running digital ads to get out the vote for Flores. The National Rifle Assoc. also endorsed Flores.
Pete
Flores
Across the district, turnout is around 4% as early voting concluded today (Friday), which likely means overall turnout will be somewhere around 7%-8% (~35K voters). Election Day is Tuesday. We will have live coverage beginning 7 p.m, CDT at txelects.com/live.
Flores is one of three Republicans on the ballot, but he is the only one who has previously run in the district, receiving 40% of the vote in the 2016 general election against Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio),
Meanwhile, Rep. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) reported receiving an additional $16K in three daily pre-election reports, and Republican Pete Flores reported an additional $13K in contributions in a pair of daily pre-election reports. Former Rep. and U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) has not reported any additional contributions since his 8-day-out report.
Elsewhere
GOV: The Combined Law Enforcement Assocs. of Texas endorsed Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for re-election over former Dallas Co. Sheriff Lupe Valdez (D).
SEN: The campaign of U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso) released a minute-long ad, “Showing Up,” highlighting his tour of all of the state’s 254 counties.
The campaign said the ad was shot entirely on iPhones at events across the state.
Meanwhile, O’Rourke has accepted U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R) proposal for a series of five debates around the state, but O’Rourke would like an additional debate in El Paso. The five dates proposed by Cruz were on Fridays. O’Rourke added that three of those debates should occur on other weeknights. Cruz’s campaign countered that the addition of El Paso could come in place of another proposed host city.
CD21 open: The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce announced it will host a debate between Republican nominee Chip Roy and Democratic nominee Joseph Kopser on August 29. Chamber chairman Shaun Kennedy will moderate.
CD23: The campaign of U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-San Antonio) released its first general election ad, “A Lifetime of Leadership.”
Wichita Falls: Mayor Stephen Santellana announced he would seek re-election. He was first elected in 2016 after serving on the city council.
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