Voter ID: A three-judge panel of the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals convened today in New Orleans to hear oral arguments regarding whether the state’s revised Voter ID law should be allowed to take effect. No timetable for a decision was announced. In September, in a 2-1 decision, a different Fifth Circuit panel stayed a lower court ruling preventing the state from implementing its revised Voter ID law. In October, the Fifth Circuit denied plaintiffs’ request to hear the case en banc. Whichever party loses with the three-judge panel will almost certainly seek an en banc hearing.
Filing for a place on the 2018 continues until 6 p.m. local time on December 11. Please see our Crib Sheets for candidates’ filing status. We’ve added about three dozen Libertarian candidates that have filed with the state party so far.
Weston
Martinez
Comm. Christi Craddick
RRC: San Antonio media strategist and Texas Real Estate Comm. Weston Martinez is campaigning for a primary challenge against Comm. Christi Craddick (R). Martinez received 10% of the vote and finished fifth in the 2016 Republican primary for an open RRC seat.
SD30: Bridgeport firefighter and council member Kevin Lopez established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) as a Democrat.
HD11: Nacogdoches environmental activist Alec Johnson established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Travis Clardy (R-Nacogdoches) as a Democrat.
HD15 open: Rep. Mark Keough (R-The Woodlands) endorsed former Rep. Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands) to succeed him.
HD45 open: San Marcos conservative activist and State Republican Executive Committee member Naomi Narvaiz established a campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs).
HD46: Austin resident Warren Baker filed in the Democratic primary to challenge Rep. Dawnna Dukes (D-Austin), becoming the fourth Democrat to file in the race. Dukes has not yet filed for re-election, as far as we can tell.
HD67: Parker resident Maleha Hameed established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano). We were unable to identify her conclusively.
HD103: Dallas resident Matt Green established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas). We were unable to identify him conclusively.
HD144: Harris Co. resident Ruben Villarreal filed in the Republican primary to challenge Rep. Mary Ann Perez (D-Houston). We were unable to identify him conclusively.
Abbott endorsements: Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed Reps. DeWayne Burns (R-Cleburne), Tom Craddick (R-Midland), Jay Dean (R-Longview), Mike Lang (R-Granbury), Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler) and Valoree Swanson (R-Spring) for re-election.
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