Former Victoria County GOP Chairman Michael Cloud will be filling the vacancy in the 27th Congressional District.

Disgraced Congressman Blake Farenthold resigned from his seat amid sexual harassment charges in 2014 and the $84,000 tax-funded settlement. Once Farenthold abandoned his Hurricane Harvey-hit district, Gov. Greg Abbott called for an emergency special election for CD 27, stating the importance of representing the district in Washington.

Nine candidates sought to fill this seat in Saturday’s special election. As expected, Republican front-runner Cloud won by a landslide with 19,856 ballots cast (54.7 percent). Trailing behind him with 11,594 votes (32 percent) was Democrat front-runner Eric Holguin.

Cloud will face Holguin again in the November general election, as he won the March Democrat primary. Libertarian candidate Daniel Tinus will also be on the November 6 ballot.

Cloud outlined his plans for staffing and focus once his transition in D.C. is complete. Giving priority to his constituents, Cloud said, “There’s people in our district still recovering from Hurricane Harvey. There’s veterans who still need care, whose cases will be put on hold until we get our office up and running.” His platform consists of limiting federal spending and regulations, as well as securing the border.

Cloud will serve the remainder of Farenthold’s term, until early January. Then whoever wins the general election will serve a full term. Cloud is also expected to win in November.

Miriam Cepeda

Miriam Cepeda is the Rio Grande Valley Bureau Chief for Texas Scorecard. A second-generation Mexican American, she is both fluent in English and Spanish and has been influential in grassroots organizing and conservative engagement within Hispanic communities. If you don’t find her “Trumping”, you can find her saving animals, running her dog, hiking the Andes, or volunteering with the U.S. National Park Service.

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