Runoff Elections: Shirley McKellar, a four-time Democratic candidate for CD1, won today’s (Saturday’s) D3 council runoff over Pamela Phoenix, 201 votes to 173 votes. Turnout was 4.4%. In South Padre Island, Patrick McNulty won the mayoral runoff over Darla Jones, 488 votes to 388 votes.
Fundraising Deadline: Tomorrow (Sunday) is the last day in the current campaign finance period for state and federal (and local, where required) officeholders and candidates. For state officials and legislators, their July semiannual reports will disclose contributions received and expenditures made between January 1 and June 30. State officeholders and legislators were barred from accepting contributions until June 17. For federal officials and candidates, their July quarterly reports will disclose contributions received and expenditures made between April 1 and June 30. Both types of reports are due July 15.
CD3: Plano resident Al Robinson established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of U.S. Rep. Van Taylor (R-Plano) as a Democrat. We were unable to identify him conclusively.
CD25: Lakeway resident Alex Johnson established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of U.S. Rep. Roger Williams (R-Austin) as a Democrat. We were unable to identify the candidate conclusively.
State Race TBD: Waxahachie rancher and State Republican Executive Committee member Sam “Tripp” Bryant established a campaign committee for a potential state race. Bryant told us he is “not running against Senator Birdwell,” as we had initially speculated in a tweet (which we since deleted and issued a corrected tweet). Bryant said he would announce his plans on July 4. Waxahachie is in HD12, which is held by Rep. John Wray (R-Waxahachie), SD22 and ED14, which is held by board member Sue Melton-Malone (R), who is up for re-election in 2020. Wray, who was first elected in 2014, received a 60 on Empower Texans’s most recent scorecard and has a career rating of “F” from the group.
Ethics Chair: The Texas Ethics Commission elected Chad Craycraft as its chair and Katie Kennedy as its vice chair. Claycraft had been vice chair. Former Rep. Steve Wolens (D-Dallas), who has chaired the commission for the last two years, remains a member. His term expires in November.
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