Special Election News for February 21

Feb 21, 2021 | Special Elections

HD68 special: Just under 1K people voted early in person or by mail through Friday, the end of an abbreviated and weather-challenged early voting period. Outstanding mail ballots will likely push total early votes above the previous low of 1,037 for the 2016 special...

Spiller, Carter Advance to Runoff in HD68

Jan 23, 2021 | Special Elections

Jacksboro attorney and Jacksboro ISD trustee David Spiller will face Nocona boot manufacturer Craig Carter in a runoff election to fill the unexpired House term of Sen. Drew Springer (R-Muenster). Both are Republicans. Spiller at times flirted with an outright win but...

Abbott Orders January 23 Special Election for HD68

Dec 28, 2020 | Special Elections

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered a January 23 special election to fill the unexpired House term of Sen.-elect Drew Springer (R-Muenster). Early voting begins January 11 – two weeks from today (Monday). Candidates must file with the Secretary of State by January 4. Cooke...

Springer Wins SD30 Special Runoff Election

Dec 19, 2020 | Redistricting, Special Elections

Rep. Drew Springer (R-Muenster) defeated Pilot Point salon owner Shelley Luther, 56%-44%, in today’s (Saturday’s) special runoff election. Springer will serve the unexpired term of Sen. Pat Fallon (R-Prosper), who is resigning to serve in Congress....

Rodriguez Withdraws from SD14 Runoff Election

Jul 27, 2020 | Campaign News, Special Elections

Note: This report has been updated since we sent our Breaking News alert. Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) has withdrawn from the SD14 special runoff election. Former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt (D) will succeed former Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin). “I have...

Gates, Birabil, Eastman Easily Win Runoff Elections

Jan 28, 2020 | Campaign News, Special Elections

Republican Gary Gates and Democrats Lorraine Birabil and Anna Eastman cruised to easy victories in today’s special runoff elections for HD28, HD100 and HD148, respectively. The results leave all three seats in the same partisan column as the 2018 general election....

Analyzing Tuesday’s Special Runoff Elections

Jan 25, 2020 | House Race Analyses, Special Elections

Special elections are strange animals, and anything can happen in them (e.g. Laura Thompson becoming the first independent to win a House since 1936), but an Eliz Markowitz victory on Tuesday must be considered an upset were it to occur. Markowitz faces Rosenberg real...

Markowitz Out-raises Legislative Runoff Candidates in Latest Reports

Jan 22, 2020 | Campaign Finance, Special Elections

The six candidates vying for three legislative seats in Tuesday’s special runoff elections were required to file their runoff campaign finance reports yesterday (Tuesday), and five of them were available online today (Wednesday). These disclose contributions received...

HD28: Republicans Likely Racing for Runoff Date with Markowitz

Oct 29, 2019 | House Race Analyses, Special Elections

Katy educator Eliz Markowitz, the lone Democrat in the eight-person field, out-raised the Republican candidates combined, $294K to $122K, from September 27 through October 26, the period covered by the candidates’ newly filed 8-day-out reports. She is...

HD148: Five Candidates, Plus Wildcards, Appear to Lead Large Field

Oct 29, 2019 | House Race Analyses, Special Elections

Fifteen candidates are vying to succeed former Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-Houston), and their 8-day-out campaign finance reports show a distinct first tier, at least in terms of resources. Candidates were required to file their 8-day-out reports, disclosing contributions...

Special Election Candidates’ 30-day-out Report Highlights

Oct 8, 2019 | Campaign Finance, Special Elections

Candidates in the three November 5 legislative special elections were required to file their 30-day-out campaign finance reports yesterday (Monday). Most of them became available online today (Tuesday). These reports disclose contributions received and expenditures...

Fields Set for Trio of Legislative Special Elections

Sep 4, 2019 | Special Elections

Today (Wednesday) was the deadline for candidates to file for the HD28, HD100 and HD148 special elections, which will coincide with the November 5 constitutional amendment election. Seven candidates filed to run for HD28, the seat being vacated by Rep. John Zerwas...

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#43 - Wes Benedict: Bridging Policy and Community with Texans for Reasonable Solutions
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Welcome to Episode #43 of Bills & Business. In this episode, Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege, sits down with Wes Benedict, Grassroots Manager at Texans for Reasonable Solutions.

Wes brings years of advocacy experience and a steady, practical approach to community engagement. The conversation explores how Texas communities can navigate political tension, build cross-partisan coalitions, and create space for meaningful dialogue in an increasingly polarized environment.

They dive into the organization’s focus on key statewide issues including housing, infrastructure, water, and the evolving relationship between local and state governments. Wes breaks down why these policies matter for both everyday Texans and the business community, and how reasonable, bipartisan solutions can move conversations forward.

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Texas Political Spotlight
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Michael and Susan Dell’s unprecedented $6.25 billion pledge to expand federal “Trump Accounts” aims to boost long-term savings for 25 million American children. In Lubbock, Texas Tech’s new classroom restrictions on race, gender identity, and sexuality have ignited an immediate clash over academic freedom and curriculum control. And in Northeast Texas, Rep. Gary VanDeaver’s decision not to seek reelection opens a pivotal Republican primary.

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USLege’s ‘Best in Government Affairs Awards’ Celebrates Heroes of the Texas Capitol with State’s First Peer-Nominated Government Affairs Honor
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Texas Political Spotlight
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Welcome back, friends

Michael and Susan Dell’s unprecedented $6.25 billion pledge to expand federal “Trump Accounts” aims to boost long-term savings for 25 million American children. In Lubbock, Texas Tech’s new classroom restrictions on race, gender identity, and sexuality have ignited an immediate clash over academic freedom and curriculum control. And in Northeast Texas, Rep. Gary VanDeaver’s decision not to seek reelection opens a pivotal Republican primary.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

Stay connected with TXLege News on X and LinkedIn!

Texas Political Spotlight
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Texas voters approved one of the largest property tax relief packages in state history on Tuesday, raising the homestead exemption to $140,000 and granting new tax breaks for seniors, people with disabilities, and small businesses. In Austin, residents rejected Proposition Q, a plan to fund public safety, homelessness programs, and city facility initiatives through a property tax hike, forcing city leaders to rework the budget and brace for service cuts. Meanwhile, Bexar County voters narrowly passed Propositions A and B, greenlighting up to $311 million in tourism-funded support for a new downtown Spurs arena and upgrades to the Freeman Coliseum grounds.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

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Texas Political Spotlight
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Former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern American politics, has died at 84, remembered by former President George W. Bush as a “patriot” whose intellect and conviction shaped decades of U.S. policy. In Texas, the Education Agency announced a sweeping takeover of Fort Worth ISD, the state’s second-largest intervention, citing years of academic underperformance and plans to install new local managers. And in Washington, a United Airlines flight was evacuated after a bomb threat, prompting an FBI investigation that later found no explosives, allowing operations to resume safely.

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