Campaign News
10/01/2019

Schofield, Sessions Seek Comebacks and Other News for October 1

TXElects

CCA3: Austin attorney Gina Parker announced she would challenge Judge Bert Richardson (R) in the Republican primary. The Parker campaign released a list of endorsements including former Gov. Rick Perry (R), seven members of the State Republican Executive Committee and Steven Hotze of the Conservative Republicans of Texas. Parker unsuccessfully challenged Tina Benkiser for state Republican Party chair in 2003 and 2004.

HD23: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) endorsed Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville) for re-election. Abbott backed Middleton over then-Rep. Wayne Faircloth (R-Galveston) before the 2018 Republican primary.

District 35: Austin educator Andrew Daly established a state campaign committee for what would be a challenge of Rep. Oscar Longoria (D-La Joya). However, a Facebook page for Daly’s campaign indicates he is eying CD35, which includes a portion of Austin. Accordingly, we will include Daly on our Federal Crib Sheet. We were unable to determine his partisan affiliation.

HD132: Former Rep. Mike Schofield (R-Katy) announced he would seek a rematch against Rep. Gina Calanni (D-Katy), who ousted the two-term incumbent by 113 votes in 2018. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) previously endorsed Republican challenger Angelica Garcia.

HD138 open: Houston homemaker Lacey Hull established a campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston) as a Republican. Campaign finance records indicate Hull has given small contributions to a number of candidates backed by Empower Texans since 2015.

HD148 special: The Michele Leal campaign announced she raised more than $100K during the first 24 days of her candidacy. Campaign finance reports are due October 7 for candidates in the special elections and, where required, local elections held on November 5.

CD11 open: Midland congressional aide Brandon Batch established a campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Midland) as a Republican. Batch is a former aide to U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Austin). He is at least the 9th Republican in the race.

CD17 open: Former U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) is considering running for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Bill Flores (R-Bryan). Sessions, who was born in Waco, appears to have scheduled an announcement at the McLennan Co. Republican Party headquarters for Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Sessions’s campaign web site was “temporarily unavailable” as of press time. He reported having $330K on hand as of June 30.

CD22 open: Sugar Land real estate broker Diana Miller established a campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) as a Republican. Miller unsuccessfully challenged Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman in 2018, losing 63%-37%, and unsuccessfully ran for the city council in 2011 (47%) and 2016 (44%).

CD23 open: The Gina Ortiz Jones campaign announced she raised more than $1M during the third quarter and expects to report having $1.4M on hand.

CD30: Dallas diversity business executive Shenita Cleveland established a campaign committee for a potential primary challenge of U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Dallas). Cleveland unsuccessfully ran for Cedar Hill council in 2017, losing the runoff to Daniel Haydin Jr., 61%-39%.

©2019 Texas Election Source LLC

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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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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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