HD79 special: A total of 199 people – 185 in person and 14 by mail – voted yesterday (Monday) during the first day of early voting, representing 0.22% of registered voters.

HD145 special: Just 87 people voted today (Tuesday), all in person, bringing the two-day total to 207 ballots cast, representing 0.29% of registered voters. A total of ballots have been mailed, but none have been returned. Voters who requested mail ballots last year will not receive a ballot for this election unless they request one, because requests for ballots only apply to the calendar year in which they’re made.

Campaign Finance: January semiannual campaign finance reports were due today (Tuesday) for state candidates/officeholders and local candidates/officeholders where required. For candidates who were opposed in the 2018 general election, these reports cover contributions received and expenditures made between October 28 and December 31, 2018. For all others, the report covers July 1 to December 31, 2018. We will update our 2018 Crib Sheets over the next few days to reflect these new reports.

Inauguration: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) were inaugurated for the second time today (Tuesday) in a ceremony at the Capitol’s North entrance.

Local Filing Period: Candidates for local offices on the May 4 uniform election ballot can begin submitting applications with the relevant governing bodies tomorrow (Wednesday).

Dallas: Former Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) announced his candidacy for mayor, becoming at least the ninth candidate to enter the race. He joins:

  • Mike Ablon, real estate developer
  • Albert Black, businessman and former Dallas Housing Authority chair
  • Larry Casto, former city attorney
  • Scott Griggs, patent attorney and four-term council member
  • Alyson Kennedy, retail employee and 2016 Socialist Workers Party presidential nominee
  • Lynn McBee, nonprofit executive
  • Regina Montoya, attorney and former Hillary Clinton presidential campaign fundraiser; and
  • Miguel Solis, educator and Dallas ISD board member.

Mayor Mike Rawlings is term-limited.

Fort Worth: Deborah Peoples, the chair of the Tarrant Co. Democratic Party, announced she would challenge Mayor Betsy Price, who is seeking a fifth term. The election is nonpartisan. Before becoming mayor, Price was elected Tarrant Co. Tax Assessor-Collector as a Republican.

Commerce: Stephanie Muller won a six-way special election for a city council seat, receiving 167 of the 240 votes cast. Her nearest rival received 27 votes.

Copperas Cove: The city council ordered an April 27 special election to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Frank Seffrood, who passed away less than three weeks after winning re-election in December. Azieta Taylor, who lost to Seffrood by 73 votes in the runoff election, said she is considering running in the special election. The filing deadline is February 25.

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