Gov. Greg Abbott today set the special runoff election for State Senate District 30 in North Texas for Saturday, December 19.
Two Republicans are in the runoff to fill the unexpired term of State Sen. Pat Fallon (R–Prosper): political outsider Shelley Luther and Austin insider State Rep. Drew Springer of Muenster.
Luther and Springer each earned 32 percent of the vote in the six-way September 29 special election, with Luther winning 164 more votes than second-place finisher Springer, but neither received the majority required to win the seat outright.
Luther is best known as the Dallas salon owner jailed for opening her business in defiance of Abbott’s shutdown orders. Since then, the Denton County resident has become an outspoken advocate for limited government, making her a favorite among conservative grassroots. Luther’s endorsements include State Sen. Bob Hall (R–Edgewood) and Collin County Judge Chris Hill.
Springer is currently serving his fourth term representing House District 68, which overlaps with rural Cooke County where he lives. He’s on the November 3 ballot to retain that House seat, but he would have to resign if he wins the senate runoff—setting up yet another special election. Springer is endorsed by Fallon and several other lawmakers.
Stumping for Springer at a candidate forum last month, Fallon told a group of Republican voters, “We don’t want somebody who’s going to be at odds with our Republican governor.”
Fallon announced his resignation in August in anticipation of winning the 4th Congressional District seat in November.
SD 30 includes 14 mostly rural North Texas counties: Archer, Clay, Cooke, Erath, Grayson, Jack, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, Wichita, Wise, and Young counties, and parts of Collin and Denton.
Any eligible voter in the district may participate in the runoff election.
Early voting in the special runoff will begin December 9.
