Rep. Jeff
Leach
SD8: Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano) announced he would not seek the seat expected to be vacated by Sen. Van Taylor (R-Plano). “I feel led to remain right where I am and continue to fight for the conservative cause in the House,” Leach said in a Facebook post. “I look forward to running for re-election.” Dallas Co. Republican chair Phillip Huffines, brother of Sen. Don Huffines (R-Dallas), has announced for the race. Leach and Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) were considered potential candidates. Shaheen has not yet announced his plans for 2018.
SD16: Dallas criminal defense attorney and Democratic precinct chair Joseph Bogen has established a state campaign committee for a potential challenge of Sen. Don Huffines (R-Dallas). He is the second to do so, joining attorney Nathan Johnson, who we believe is seeking this seat and not HD16, which is listed on his campaign treasurer appointment.
CD7: Houston immigration nonprofit director Alex Triantaphyllis announced he would challenge U.S. Rep. John Culberson (R-Houston) as a Democrat. Meanwhile, Houston physician Jason Westin has decided he will seek the Democratic nomination. We reported in February that he was considering the race. There are now at least six Democrats and one Republican who have taken formal steps toward running for the seat.
CD32: Dallas businessman and former Hillary Clinton campaign strategist Ed Meier launched his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) as a Democrat. He is at least the seventh Democrat to take a formal step toward running for the seat.
Updated June 17: Nathan Johnson’s campaign treasurer appointment form accurately listed SD16 under “office sought,” but it was erroneously listed under HD16 in the Ethics Commission’s reports on active CTAs. That error has since been corrected.
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