The Seventh Court of Appeals, Place 4 race will be on the ballot again for some voters in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains areas.
On Wednesday, Judge W. Stacy Trotter ordered a new election for the controversial Republican primary contest after the election was left off of the ballot in two of the 46 counties in which it was scheduled to appear. Trotter ordered the new election after the losing candidate from the March 3 primary, incumbent Justice Larry Doss, filed a challenge.
“I will continue to work to ensure that every voter gets an opportunity to be heard at the ballot box,” Doss said in a statement on Facebook. “Thank you for all of your prayers and support during this time! I look forward to working with you as election day nears!”
Amarillo attorney Steven Denny, who was originally the winner based on the March 3 results, said he was disappointed with the results but understood the court’s reasoning. Denny also said he is concerned about how the rescheduled date could disenfranchise voters who cast ballots in the original elections.
“Although 1,200 voters in those two counties did not get a vote on this particular race, it is entirely likely with the dismal turnout in runoff elections compounded with the COVID-19 scare that we could have fewer than 10,000 voters in the new election, which would disenfranchise the other 80,000 that voted in the original election,” Denny said.
Denny went on to say he is weighing his options regarding appealing the court’s decision.
The new election is currently scheduled for July 14.
