Four-term Texas Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Corpus Christi), who had shelved his plan to run for re-election well before the March 6th state primary largely due to details stemming from a sexual harassment settlement, abruptly resigned from the House on Friday. Mr. Farenthold delivered his announcement via video during the middle of the day and left his position by 5 pm.

The resignation had been rumored because the House Ethics Committee was about to conduct a further investigation into the harassment case and the $84,000 taxpayer funded settlement. Rep. Farenthold said earlier that he would reimburse the government for the payment, but records do not indicate the refund was made. By resigning, the Ethics Committee cannot continue the investigation because Farenthold will no longer be a member.

Former Rep. Farenthold leaving office early means five House seats will be vacant upon Pennsylvania Rep-Elect Conor Lamb (D-Pittsburgh) imminent induction. The others are: AZ-8 (Franks-R), MI-13 (Conyers-D), NY-25 (Slaughter-D), and OH-12 (Tiberi-R). All will be filled by special election before the current Congress ends, though the Michigan seat will be done concurrently with the regular election cycle and there is no announced schedule for the New York seat. The AZ-8 seat special general election is April 24th. The OH-12 special primary will be held May 8th, concurrent with the regular state primary. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has yet to decide a replacement procedure for the late Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-Rochester).

The Texas succession situation is unclear. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has eight days to decide on a special election schedule. The post-primary run-off for both parties is May 22nd for the now vacant 27th CD.

It’s possible for the Governor to schedule the special simultaneously with the regular general election but a problem would arise if no one received an electoral majority in that election. Since Texas has adopted a two-month run-off cycle to comply with the federal MOVE Act that pertains to military and overseas voting, such a schedule here would mean filling the seat after the Congress ends, thereby rendering the entire special election process as moot. Thus, it remains to be seen what action Mr. Abbott will take.

Competing in the May 22nd run-off are former state Water Development Board chairman Bech Bruun and ex-Victoria County Republican chairman Michael Cloud on the GOP side, and court security officer Roy Barrera and ex-congressional aide Eric Holguin for the Democrats. The eventual Republican nominee is favored to hold the seat in the regular term.

Jim Ellis

Jim Ellis was born and raised in Sacramento, California. He earned a B. A. in Political Science from the University of California at Davis in 1979. Jim raised his daughter, Jacqueline, alone after his wife died following a tragic car accident. He helped establish the Joan Ellis Victims Assistance Network in Rochester, NH. Jim also is a member of the Northern Virginia Football Officials Association, which officiates high school games throughout the region.

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