Early voting continues through Friday for the November 2 constitutional amendment, general and special elections.
Through yesterday (Sunday), the seventh days of early voting, turnout statewide was still south of 2%. Counties with the highest turnout percentage so far were Red River (8.4%), Jeff Davis (7.8%), Loving (6.3% – 6 voters), Wilbarger (5.9%), Glasscock (5.7%), Llano (5.4%), Victoria (5.0%), Travis (4.8%), Wheeler (4.5%), Briscoe (4.3%), Upton (4.1%), Coke (3.9%), Madison (3.9%), Gray (3.8%), Young (3.8%), Lubbock (3.6%), Austin (3.6%) and Bastrop (3.5%) Cos.
Through yesterday (Sunday), just over 4K people have voted early for the HD118 special runoff election, corresponding to just under 4% of registered voters. The total number of early voters has already surpassed, barely, the total number of absentee and early voters for the HD118 special election last month.
Redistricting: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed into law the new congressional and legislative maps passed during the recently concluded third special session.
GOV: Lago Vista attorney and former council member Mark Tippetts re-established his campaign committee for a potential challenge of Gov. Greg Abbott (R) as a Libertarian. Tippetts was the Libertarian nominee in 2018 and received 2% of the vote. He was appointed to the Lago Vista city council in 2016 but lost a bid for a full term in 2017.
SD31 open: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) endorsed Kevin Sparks (R), who had previously been endorsed by President Trump, for the seat being vacated by Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo).
HD53: Brady business owner Wesley Virdell established a campaign committee for a potential primary challenge of Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction). Virdell unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for what was then open CD11 in 2020 (7%), finishing fourth in a 10-candidate field. Murr announced he would seek re-election.
HD70: Richardson investor and entrepreneur LaDale Buggs and Dallas legislative communications director Mihaela Plesa established campaign committees for potential runs for the newly drawn open seat in southwestern Collin Co. Buggs’s political affiliation could not be conclusively determined. Plesa worked for Rep. Ray Lopez (D-San Antonio) during the current legislative session and for Rep. Shawn Thierry (D-Houston) during the 2017 session.
CD15 open: Mauro Garza, a San Antonio business owner and 2020 Republican nominee for CD20, announced he would now seek open CD15.
CD30: Dallas attorney and legislative aide Abel Mulugheta established a campaign committee for a potential run as a Democrat for the seat many expect will be vacated by U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Dallas). Mulugheta served as Rep. Rafael Anchia’s general counsel and chief of staff during the most recent legislative session.
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