This post has been updated since we sent our Breaking News alert.
Rep. Leighton Schubert (R-Caldwell) announced he would not seek re-election. “I care deeply for this area and this decision was not an easy one,” said the two-term legislator. “I look forward to spending more time with my family.”
Rep. Leighton Schubert
Schubert had already filed for re-election, and Gov. Greg Abbott (R) endorsed him last month. He had no Republican opponent, and the only Democrat in the race was two-time candidate Cecil Webster, a Carmine military retiree who received 15% in the 2015 special election and 21% in the 2016 general election for the seat.
He is the 13th state representative to retire to seek another office so far this cycle.
Schubert was first elected to the House in that 2015 special election necessitated by the promotion of former Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) to the Senate. He defeated former Austin County Judge Carolyn Bilski, 57%-43%, in a special runoff election. Because the vacancy occurred just before a legislative session, both elections were expedited and run on very short timeframes. The timing of Schubert’s announcement once again leaves candidates very little time to organize a campaign.
©2017 Texas Election Source LLC
