Almost two dozen candidates have filed to run for the Texas congressional seat left by the late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright (R–Arlington).
As of Wednesday’s 5 p.m. filing deadline, the Texas Secretary of State’s website listed 23 candidates for Wright’s unexpired term representing the 6th Congressional District, which includes parts of Fort Worth and Arlington in Tarrant County, as well as all of Ellis and Navarro counties.
Wright was elected to a second term in 2020 but passed away last month after a three-year battle with lung cancer complicated by a bout with COVID-19.
The contest will be a jungle primary, with candidates from all parties on the ballot. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes—likely with such a large field—the top two vote-getters will compete in a runoff.
A special election to fill the seat is set for May 1. Early voting runs April 19-27.
Susan Wright, the late congressman’s widow, is an early favorite. The Republican activist officially entered the race last Wednesday and immediately drew broad support from across the district.
Other Republicans who have filed to run include:
- Michael Ballentine, a lecturer from Arlington;
- John Anthony Castro, who ran for U.S. Senate in 2020;
- Mike Egan, who lists his occupation as technology;
- State Rep. Jake Ellzey (R–Waxahachie), a first-term lawmaker who ran second to Wright in the 2018 GOP primary for CD 6;
- Brian Harrison of Midlothian, who served as Health and Human Services chief of staff in the Trump administration and describes himself as a “swamp drainer;”
- Sery Kim, an Arlington attorney and former Small Business Administration official in the Trump administration;
- Travis Rodermund, a police officer from Arlington;
- Dan Rodimer, a retired professional wrestler who ran for Congress last year in Nevada but lists himself as a business owner from Mansfield;
- Jenny Garcia Sharon; a caregiver/volunteer who lists an Austin address; and
- Michael Wood, an Arlington business owner.
Democrats who have filed include:
- Tammy Allison, a Grand Prairie attorney;
- Lydia Bean, an Arlington business owner who lost a state House race in 2020;
- Daryl J. Eddings Sr., a Midlothian business owner;
- Matt Hinterlong, a Dallas developer;
- Shawn Lassiter, an educator who previously filed to run for Fort Worth City Council;
- Patrick Moses, a pastor and retired police officer from Mansfield;
- Manual Richard Salazar III, an Arlington realtor;
- Jana Lynne Sanchez, a Fort Worth publicist who lost to Wright in the 2018 general election;
- Brian K. Stephenson, a systems engineer who lists a Houston address; and
- Chris Suprun, a paramedic from Arlington.
Rounding out the list of filed candidates are Libertarian Phil Gray, a property manager with a Tyler address; and Independent Adrian Mizher, a banker from Kennedale.
