Legislative Services

Every election season brings change, but this cycle has been substantial for the House. It expelled Bryan Slaton, creating one vacancy. Seventeen Representatives chose not to seek a return to the chamber. Nine lost in the primary. And nine more are headed to a runoff. So, at a minimum, 27 members of the 88th Legislature will not be back. The exclamation point? House Speaker Dade Phelan needs a victory in the May 28 runoff to avoid being the first speaker in over 50 years to lose a primary.

Newly elected Rep. Jill Dutton (R-Ben Wheeler), who prevailed in a special election runoff for House District 2 and was sworn in just weeks ago, lost her bid to occupy that seat for the next legislative session. The special election's second-place finisher, Brent Money, knocked her off in the rematch and is likely to prevail in November's general election in the Republican-leaning district.

No sitting senator lost a bid for reelection, but the body will welcome a new member soon. A May 4 special election is set to fill the unexpired term of former Dean of the Senate and recently elected Houston Mayor John Whitmire.

The lists below detail a changing Legislature. In June we will review the results of the May 28 runoff election. Stay tuned.

Incumbents who lost their primary:

• Rep. Jill Dutton (R-Ben Wheeler), House District 2
• Rep. Travis Clardy (R-Nacogdoches), House District 11
• Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd), House District 18
• Rep. Jacey Jetton (R-Richmond), House District 26
• Rep. Hugh Shine (R-Temple), House District 55
• Rep. Glenn Rogers (R-Graford), House District 60
• Rep. Reggie Smith (R-Sherman), House District 62
• Rep. Kronda Thimesch (R-Lewisville), House District 65
• Rep. Steve Allison (R-San Antonio), House District 121

Incumbents headed to a runoff:

• Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston), House District 1
• Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont), House District 21
• Rep. Justin Holland (R-Rockwall), House District 33
• Rep. John Kuempel (R-Seguin), House District 44
• Rep. DeWayne Burns (R-Cleburne), House District 58
• Rep. Frederick Frazier (R-McKinney), House District 61
• Rep. Lynn Stucky (R-Denton), House District 64
• Rep. Stephanie Klick (R-Fort Worth), House District 91
• Rep. Shawn Thierry (D-Houston), House District 146

Lawmakers who decided not to run for reelection or who have sought or are seeking another office:

• Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler), House District 6
• Rep. Kyle Kacal (R-College Station), House District 12
• Rep. John Raney (R-College Station), House District 14
• Rep. Ed Thompson (R-Pearland), House District 29
• Rep. Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria), House District 30
• Rep. Abel Herrero (D-Robstown), House District 34
• Rep. Andrew S. Murr (R-Junction), House District 53
• Rep. Charles "Doc" Anderson (R-Waco), House District 56
• Rep. Evelina "Lina" Ortega (D-El Paso), House District 77
• Rep. Tracy King (D-Uvalde), House District 80
• Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo), House District 87
• Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth), House District 97
• Rep. Victoria Neave Criado (D-Dallas), House District 107
• Rep. Carl Sherman (D-DeSoto), House District 109
• Rep. Rhetta Andrews Bowers (D-Rowlett), House District 113
• Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Farmers Branch), House District 115
• Rep. Jarvis Johnson (D-Houston), House District 139
• Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston), Senate District 15
• Sen. Drew Springer (R-Muenster), Senate District 30

Full primary election results may be viewed here. Additional current election information is also available on the Secretary of State's website.

Texas Congressional Primary Highlights

• U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Dallas) will challenge U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in November after defeating a crowded field of Democrats.
• State Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth) and business owner John O'Shea are competing in a runoff, also set for May 28, to replace U.S. Rep. Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth). 
• Brandon Gill won the Republican nomination to replace U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Denton). 
• U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (D-San Antonio) failed to clinch his party's nomination and is headed for a primary runoff against gun rights advocate and social media influencer Brandon Herrera.
• U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) defeated former City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards in what was the most competitive Democratic primary of her congressional career.
• Texas Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Farmers Branch) narrowly avoided a runoff to replace U.S. Rep. Colin Allred. Brian Williams, who was in second place, conceded.

Full primary election results are available on the Secretary of State's website.

For more information about the congressional primaries, please contact Megan Molleur.

Panhandle County Leaders Meet, Discuss Catastrophic Wildfires

The Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association met for its spring conference in Amarillo on March 7. Nim Kidd, Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) chief, provided an update on the ongoing wildfires. Kidd discussed current containment levels, available resources, and ongoing response and coordination efforts between TDEM and local officials. Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) also provided remarks about the ongoing response efforts for the wildfires and gave insight into legislative initiatives he would be spearheading to help in such disasters.

Sen. Kevin Sparks (R-Midland) expressed his condolences to those communities experiencing significant losses. Sparks discussed his legislative efforts to adequately address mental health issues, stating he is working with others in West Texas to build facilities that complement one another. Sparks referenced the funding for the new state hospital in Amarillo and said the next steps will be addressing the workforce shortage to staff such facilities.

Rep. John Smithee (R-Amarillo) also spoke, concurring with Sparks about the need to address medical and mental health workforce shortages during the upcoming legislative session. Staffers from Sens. Ted Cruz's and John Cornyn's offices attended and spoke about congressional efforts to send aid to counties in need because of the wildfires.

For more information about the conference, please contact Katy Estrada.

House Forms Committee to Investigate Panhandle Wildfires

Interim activity often waits for election results, but the tragic Panhandle wildfires pushed House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) into action. By proclamation, he formed a five-member investigative committee to examine the disaster and issue a report with its findings by May 1. Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) will serve as chair, alongside fellow Reps. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) and Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) and public members Jason Abraham and Ashley Cash.

For more information about this article, please contact Pete Winckler.