CD7: Former Bellaire Mayor Cindy Siegel stepped down from the Metropolitan Transit Authority board, effective immediately, to challenge U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Houston) as a Republican. Siegel was mayor from 2004 to 2012 after serving six years on the city council. Houston inside sales manager Tom DeVor and Houston homebuilder Wesley Hunt are already in the Republican race.
CD12: Hurst progressive activist Al Wollum established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of U.S. Rep. Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth) as a Democrat. Wollum began a campaign for the seat in 2017 but withdrew before the filing period began.
National Democrats: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced it would open a satellite office in Austin with eight paid staffers. The DCCC has targeted six Republican-held districts in the state: CD10 (McCaul), CD21 (Roy), CD22 (Olson), CD23 (Hurd), CD24 (Marchant) and CD31 (Carter). A similar effort in California last year contributed to the flipping of seven seats there.
Harris Co.: By a 3-2 vote, the Harris County Commissioners Court opted to appoint a replacement for County Court at Law Judge Bill McLeod, who accidentally resigned in late March when he declared his candidacy for Supreme Court Chief Justice. Attorney Lesley Briones was appointed to succeed him. Art. 16, Sec. 65 of the Texas Constitution provides that various county elected officials’ announcing their candidacy for another office triggers their automatic resignation unless there are less than 13 months left in their term. The Commissioners Court had the option of allowing McLeod to continue serving by not appointing a successor. McLeod was elected in November as part of a Democratic sweep of county judicial offices. Commissioners Rodney Ellis and Adrian Garcia joined County Judge Lina Hidalgo – all Democrats – in voting to appoint Briones. Commissioners Jack Cagle and Steve Radack voted against Briones.
San Antonio: The San Antonio Express-News endorsed Adriana Garcia for the open D4 council seat.
DeSoto ISD: The Dallas Morning News endorsed incumbent Carl Sherman Jr., son of Rep. Carl Sherman Sr. (D-DeSoto), for re-election to his P1 seat.
©2019 Texas Election Source LLC
