Campaign News
04/19/2017

McNutt Seeks Rematch and Other State Election News for April 19

TXElects

HD8: Corsicana bakery owner Thomas McNutt intends to seek a rematch against Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicana), who defeated McNutt by 225 votes in the 2016 Republican primary. Cook out-raised his opponent, $1.0M to $452K, and outspent him, $1.4M to $472M. Texans for Fiscal Responsibility/Empower Texans and some of its connected donors accounted for more than half of McNutt’s fundraising during his 2016 challenge.

Since 2002, there have been 35 rematches of primary elections for legislative seats. The loser of the most recent match-up has won 13 of those rematches (37%). Six of those 13 were former legislators seeking to reclaim seats from those who unseated them.

SEN: U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) said he would take a few more weeks before deciding whether to run against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R).

CD3 open: Allen business owner Adam Bell, who lost the 2016 general election to U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Plano), 61%-35%, announced he would again run for the seat again.

CD21: Austin attorney Chris Perri filed paperwork establishing a campaign committee for a potential challenge to U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-San Antonio) as a Democrat. He is at least the seventh person to take a formal step toward running for the seat as a Democrat.

CD32: Dallas civil rights attorney and former professional football player Colin Allred filed paperwork establishing a campaign committee for a potential challenge to U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) as a Democrat. Allred served as a special assistant to U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Sec. Julian Castro. Allred is at least the sixth person to take a formal step toward running for the seat as a Democrat.

Meanwhile, Dallas ISD trustee Miguel Solis indicated in a Facebook post that he would not seek the seat.

Thomas McNutt

©2017 Texas Election Source LLC

🎙️We Have a Podcast! 🎙️

Bills and Business is your go-to podcast for conversations related to Texas legislation and business. Hosted by Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege—an AI-driven legislative tracking software—we bring you in-depth analysis on economic trends, impactful legislation, and key developments shaping Texas business.

Subscribe on Youtube and Spotify for weekly episodes!

🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

USLege helps you track legislation and find what you need faster from bills, committee hearings, floor debates, and state agency meetings faster.

Say goodbye to tedious tasks!

You can follow USLege on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

🤝 Texas Association of Business 📈

Texas Association of Business (TAB) is the Texas State Chamber, representing companies of every size and industry. TAB’s purpose is to champion the best business climate in the world, unleashing the power of free enterprise to enhance lives for generations.

You can follow TAB on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

Table of Content
  1. 01 First
Trusted by Government Affairs Professionals and Corporate Policy Teams
Blog & Articles

Read more news

Texas Political Spotlight
This is some text inside of a div block.

Welcome back, friends,

Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered a statewide freeze on new H-1B visa applications at Texas public universities and state agencies. In the Democratic race for lieutenant governor, steelworkers union leader Marcos Vélez is gaining traction with major labor backing and fresh scrutiny over fundraising ties linked to Texas Majority PAC as the primary nears. Lastly, Abbott says the White House is developing a plan to “recalibrate” ICE enforcement after fallout in Minnesota, as Texas simultaneously weighs billions more for Operation Lone Star and its ongoing border strategy.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

Stay connected with TXLege News on X and LinkedIn!

Texas Political Spotlight
This is some text inside of a div block.

Welcome back, friends

Texas is facing a pivotal legal test over its election system as Republicans seek to end open primaries, a move that supporters frame as protecting party autonomy and critics warn could create new barriers to voter participation. At the same time, federal officials are considering a land exchange that would allow SpaceX to expand its South Texas launch site, renewing debate over how to balance economic growth with the preservation of sensitive wildlife habitat along the Gulf Coast. Lastly, a federal judge has blocked a new Texas law regulating children’s access to app stores, underscoring the ongoing uncertainty over how far states can go in policing online safety without infringing on constitutional rights.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

Stay connected with TXLege News on X and LinkedIn!

#44 - Hope Osborn: Building Community for Women in Texas Politics with Pink Granite
This is some text inside of a div block.

Welcome to Episode #44 of Bills & Business. In this episode, Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege, sits down with Hope Osborn, Co-Founder of The Pink Granite Foundation.

Hope brings more than a decade of experience across the Texas Capitol, having worked in both chambers, both parties, and in the advocacy world. She shares the story behind The Pink Granite Foundation and how it has grown into a nonpartisan force for uplifting, connecting, and supporting women in Texas politics. From its grassroots beginnings to the impact of the 2025 Pink Granite Party, Hope provides an inside look at how the organization strengthens the political ecosystem.

Laura and Hope explore the nonprofit’s mentorship programs, year-round community-building efforts, and the unique pressures women face working under the dome. Hope offers insight into why women’s leadership in politics matters, how to break down persistent barriers, and what the future looks like for the next generation of female leaders in Texas policymaking.

Don’t forget to subscribe to Bills & Business on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more deep dives into Texas policy and business news.

📲 Follow Laura Carr

🐦 Twitter: @Laura_USLege https://x.com/Laura_USLege

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurauslege/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereallauracarr/

🛍️ ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/shop/lauraluise?Section_title=latest-finds&tab=collections

✍️ Substack: https://lauraluise.substack.com/

🔗 Links: https://lauraluise.carrd.co/

📲 Follow USLege

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uslege.ai/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USLegeai

🐦 Twitter: @USLege_ai https://x.com/USLege_ai

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uslege-ai/

🎧 Subscribe to Bills & Business

🌐 Website: https://www.uslege.ai/

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BillsandBusiness

🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/22ZWg9VVb2AEGqyV14osNi?si=effe3795f8414171

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/bills-and-business-by-uslege/id1781059329

🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uslege

📲 Follow Hope Osborn

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hopeosborn/

🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/HopeOsbornTX

🎬 Produced by USLege

📞 Want to see USLege in action? Schedule a demo today! https://www.uslege.ai/demo

Texas Political Spotlight
This is some text inside of a div block.

Welcome back, friends,

Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered a statewide freeze on new H-1B visa applications at Texas public universities and state agencies. In the Democratic race for lieutenant governor, steelworkers union leader Marcos Vélez is gaining traction with major labor backing and fresh scrutiny over fundraising ties linked to Texas Majority PAC as the primary nears. Lastly, Abbott says the White House is developing a plan to “recalibrate” ICE enforcement after fallout in Minnesota, as Texas simultaneously weighs billions more for Operation Lone Star and its ongoing border strategy.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

Stay connected with TXLege News on X and LinkedIn!

Texas Political Spotlight
This is some text inside of a div block.

Welcome back, friends

Texas is facing a pivotal legal test over its election system as Republicans seek to end open primaries, a move that supporters frame as protecting party autonomy and critics warn could create new barriers to voter participation. At the same time, federal officials are considering a land exchange that would allow SpaceX to expand its South Texas launch site, renewing debate over how to balance economic growth with the preservation of sensitive wildlife habitat along the Gulf Coast. Lastly, a federal judge has blocked a new Texas law regulating children’s access to app stores, underscoring the ongoing uncertainty over how far states can go in policing online safety without infringing on constitutional rights.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

Stay connected with TXLege News on X and LinkedIn!

Texas Political Spotlight
This is some text inside of a div block.

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!