Legislative Committee Update: Texas Primary Runoffs

By Adam Burklund, TFCA Legislative Consultant, Burklund Consulting 

We are only a few days away from Tuesday’s primary runoff elections across the state. Millions of dollars are being spent on various political races. The largest amount appears to be going into the embattled House Speaker Phelan’s race in Beaumont and the contest between Haugenbuch and Yarborough to fill the seat of retiring Republican Senator Drew Springer in North Texas. Some of the money flowing into these races is coming from groups (some out-of-state) pushing a specific policy agenda (e.g., private school vouchers, gambling, abortion, etc.). Other funds come from a more ideological perspective, supporting business-friendly candidates or those who align with the further-right social conservatives.

Precedent shows that runoff races are notoriously bad for incumbents. However, no two races are the same, and this election cycle is occurring under a unique set of circumstances. So many high-profile Republicans are publicly taking sides against each other, there is significant campaign spending, a former president is endorsing against incumbents, and all in a presidential election year. The ultimate determinant of success is voter turnout. Of course, we’ll keep you posted on the results.

Here is a list of the races, with incumbents shown in bold/italics:

Texas House

• HD 1, New Boston (Republican) – Gary VanDeaver v. Chris Spencer
• HD 12, Bryan (Republican) – Ben Bius v. Trey Wharton
• HD 21, Beaumont (Republican) – Dade Phelan v. Dave Covey
• HD 29, Pearland (Republican) – Jeffery Barry v. Alex Kamkar
• HD 30, Victoria (Republican) – Jeff Bauknight v. A.J. Louderback
• HD 37, Harlingen (Democratic) – Ruben Cortez v. Jonathan Garcia
• HD 33, Rockwall (Republican) – Justin Holland v. Katrina Pierson
• HD 44, Seguin (Republican) – John Kuempel v. Alan Schoolcraft
• HD 58, Cleburne (Republican) – DeWayne Burns v. Helen Kerwin
• HD 61, McKinney (Republican) – Frederick Frazier v. Keresa Richardson
• HD 64, Denton (Republican) – Lynn Stucky v. Andy Hopper
• HD 76, Sugar Land (Republican) – Summara Kanwal v. Lea C.S. Simmons
• HD 77, El Paso (Democratic) – Norma Chavez v. Vince Perez
• HD 80, Uvalde (Democratic) – Cecilia Castellano v. Rosie Cuellar
• HD 91, North Richland Hills (Republican) – Stephanie Klick v. David Lowe
• HD 97, Ft. Worth (Democratic) – Diane Symons v. Carlos Walker
• HD 97, Ft. Worth (Republican) – Cheryl Bean v. John McQueeney
• HD 139, Houston (Democratic) – Angeanette Thibodeaux v. Charlene Ward Johnson
• HD 146, Houston (Democratic) – Lauren Ashley Simmons v. Shawn Nicole Thierry

Texas Senate

• SD 15, Houston (Democratic) – Molly Cook v. Jarvis Johnson
• SD 30, Muenster (Democratic) – Michael Braxton v. Dale Frey
• SD 30, Muenster (Republican) – Brent Hagenbuch v. Jace Yarbrough

Interim hearings are beginning to happen in the Senate, and a few have been scheduled in the House. So far, activity in the Capitol has been minimal, with all eyes on the runoffs.