Texans headed to the polls on Tuesday for runoff elections in several key races, including competitive primary contests for congressional seats and a tough battle among Republicans for the seat held by the speaker of the State House.
The runoff elections were necessary as no candidate received a majority of the vote in the primaries back in March. One of the standout races was in the Republican primary for the challenge against Representative Henry Cuellar, where retired Navy officer Jay Furman emerged victorious over rancher Lazaro Garza Jr.
In another closely watched race, Representative Tony Gonzales, who has clashed with some far-right members of his party, found himself in a runoff against gun rights activist Brandon Herrera in U.S. House District 23. Gonzales, who was first elected in 2020, has faced criticism for his bipartisan stance on issues like gun control and gay marriage, but has since shifted towards hard-line immigration policies. Herrera, endorsed by Representative Matt Gaetz and other House Freedom Caucus members, is hoping to consolidate support from right-wing voters who opposed Gonzales in the first round.
In Texas House District 21, the speaker of the Texas House, Dade Phelan, is in a tight Republican contest with newcomer David Covey. Covey, backed by wealthy donors and endorsed by former President Trump, narrowly led Phelan in the initial round of voting. The opposition to Phelan is largely driven by state attorney general Ken Paxton, seeking revenge for his impeachment by the Texas House on corruption charges. Paxton has campaigned for Covey, with some seeing an opportunity to push the Legislature further to the right.
The runoff elections have drawn significant attention and could have far-reaching implications for Texas politics. Stay tuned for the results of these closely contested races.
