Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) announced he would seek re-election to a third term. Patrick’s campaign account had $19.5M on hand as of December 31, the highest cash-on-hand figure ever reported by a Texas lieutenant governor. As of that date, Patrick has raised $43.1M since he was elected to the office in 2014, including $3.2M during the last 10 or so days of June 2019 after the contribution moratorium in place for that legislative session ended.
Freshman Rep. Cody Vasut (R-Angleton) said he did not support Patrick’s re-election bid. “I frankly think we need new leadership in the Texas Senate,” Vasut was quoted as saying to the Lake Jackson Business Assoc. “He needs to go. I think we need somebody else in there who is actually committed to being productive.” While it is not unusual for one chamber’s members to criticize the other chamber right after a session, Vasut’s candid assessment might earn him a primary challenger.
LAND open: Houston heart surgeon Jon Spiers announced he would seek the Republican nomination for Land Commissioner. Spiers received less than 1% of the vote in the 2018 Republican primary for CD2
SD4: Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) announced he would seek re-election.
HD41: Rep. Bobby Guerra (D-Mission) announced he would seek re-election.
CD16: U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-El Paso) announced she would seek re-election.
Tarrant Co.: Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price announced she would seek the Republican nomination for County Judge. Incumbent Glen Whitley (R) is not seeking re-election. He, Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams and North Richland Hills Mayor Oscar Treviño endorsed Price.
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