Texas’ congressional delegation is poised for a historic rightward turn following Tuesday’s GOP Primary.
North of Houston, State Rep. Steve Toth defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw to earn the Republican nomination in Congressional District 2. Toth will face a Democrat in the General Election.
Toth is only the second challenger ever to defeat an incumbent congressman in a Texas Republican primary. John Ratcliff defeated Ralph Hall in a 2014 primary, due primarily to the latter’s age.
Toth is the first challenger to defeat an incumbent Texas Republican congressman over “ideological” reasons.
In West Texas, Second Amendment activist Brandon Herrera will face scandal-plagued incumbent U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales in a May runoff for CD 23. Gonzales is currently under fire for lewd text messages he sent to a former staffer, who later committed suicide. Gonzales had previously been at odds with constituents over a series of policy issues.
If Gonzales loses his runoff, it would mark the first time ever that multiple incumbent Republican congressmen from Texas lost a primary in the same cycle.
Several other congressional races will now head to runoffs.
Outside Houston, Alexandra Mealer will face State Rep. Briscoe Cain in a runoff for the open seat in CD 9.
Mealer has been endorsed by Houston businessman Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale and President Trump. Cain, who was a close political ally of disgraced former speaker Dennis Bonnen, has feuded with the grassroots for supporting power sharing arrangements with Democrats and the impeachment of Ken Paxton.
Also in Harris County, John Bonck and Shelley DeZevallos will face off in CD 38. This is an open seat currently held by Wesley Hunt, who chose to run for the U.S. Senate. Hunt came in third, behind incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton who will head to a runoff.
In the Panhandle, Tom Sell will likely face Abraham Enriquez for CD 19. As of publication, Enriquez leads third place contestant Matt Smith by less than 200 votes and the race has not been officially called.
Outside San Antonio, former State Rep. John Lujan will face Carlos de la Cruz for CD 35. De la Cruz’s sister, Monica, represents a neighboring district.
In Dallas County, CD 32 could face a runoff. As of publication, first place finisher Jace Yarbrough was at 49 percent with over 98 percent of the vote counted. If the outstanding total does not put Yarbrough over the top, he will face Ryan Binkley in the runoff.
A handful of districts drawn to elect Democrats in the general election will also have runoffs for their token GOP opposition.
Several other open-seat nominees were selected outright.
Voters in CD 8 (Conroe) nominated think tank staffer Jessica Steinmann, CD 10 (Central Texas) nominated attorney Chris Gober, CD 21 (Hill Country) nominated World Series legend Mark Teixeira, and CD 27 (Fort Bend County) nominated the incumbent congressman’s twin brother Trevor Nehls.
In Williamson County, 84-year-old Congressman John Carter garnered less than 60 percent of the vote against token opposition. Carter was first elected in 2002.
In South Texas, Republican voters nominated candidates for two current Democrat seats the national party hopes to flip in the fall.
In the Laredo-based 28th Congressional District, Republicans nominated Tano Tijerina to face U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D) in November. In the Brownsville-based 34th District, Republicans nominated Eric Flores to face U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D).
Where necessary, runoffs will occur May 26. The General Election is scheduled for November 3.
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