U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas is running for re-election in a GOP primary runoff that has exposed internal party divisions.
Gonzales, who has battled with some of his hard-right colleagues in Washington and received a rebuke from the state party, is running against Brandon Herrera, a gun-rights YouTube creator with over 3 million subscribers.
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- 1 A BIG BRAWL IN A BIG DISTRICT
- 2 WHO RUNS THE TEXAS HOUSE?
- 3 TRUMP TIES
- 4 WEATHER WALLOP
- 5 CHALLENGING CUELLAR
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan also faces a difficult fight that might result in his removal from his important position, upending the Republican-controlled Legislature. Infuriating conservatives, Phelan led the 2023 impeachment of state Attorney General Ken Paxton, ultimately exonerated in a Senate trial, and then attempted to remove those who voted against him.
A Gonzales loss, his backers warn, would give Democrats an opportunity to flip a usually moderate seat in November, while a change in Texas House leadership might shift the state’s policymaking even further to the right.
Here’s a glance at the major primary runoffs in Texas:
A BIG BRAWL IN A BIG DISTRICT
He won his first election in 2020 and was re-elected in 2022 with ease. However, the state Republican Party sanctioned him due to his voting record, which showcased his independent nature. This included his support for the protection of same-sex marriage and his advocacy for new gun-safety laws, following the tragic Uvalde school shooting in 2022, where 21 individuals lost their lives in his district.
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Gonzales has had disagreements with certain hard-right Republicans, referring to them as “scumbags.”
Gonzales enjoys the backing of several influential Republicans who may hesitate to remove an incumbent from a supposedly secure position. Notably, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has shown his support for Gonzales by attending a fundraiser, and Governor Greg Abbott has endorsed him. Furthermore, Herrera has garnered support from the far right, including a joint campaign appearance with Republican Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida.
In November, the winner will go up against Democrat Santos Limon.
Republican Rep. Jerry Carl of Alabama was defeated this year in an unusual primary by Rep. Barry Moore. The primary took place after the state was compelled to redraw congressional districts.
WHO RUNS THE TEXAS HOUSE?
Normally, reelection would be a given for a speaker whose Republican majority passed some of the most stringent anti-abortion legislation in the country, significantly extended gun rights, backed Abbott’s extremely prominent anti-immigrant platforms, and restricted LGBTQ+ rights.
However, Phelan found himself in a runoff against David Covey, an expert in oil and gas. Furthermore, Phelan finished second in the March primary, leaving him much room to make up on Tuesday. The winner will not face a Democratic challenger in November.
If Phelan loses, a new round of campaigning for speakership will begin, with candidates chosen from among the state House members.
TRUMP TIES
In the race for the state House seat in the Dallas suburbs, Katrina Pierson, who previously served as a spokeswoman for former President Donald Trump, is challenging the incumbent, Justin Holland.
Holland was one of several House Republicans who voted to impeach Paxton. He also voted to raise the age to purchase assault rifles from 18 to 21, and he opposed Abbott’s plan to spend public funds on private schools.
WEATHER WALLOP
Severe storms that hit the state early Tuesday will most likely have an impact on voting and potentially the outcomes, especially in Dallas and Houston, where voters may struggle to get to the polls or find them closed when they arrive.
More than 100 voting booths in Dallas, Kaufman, Ellis, and Tarrant counties were out of electricity early in the day, with more storms forecast later. Judge Clay Jenkins of Dallas County declared a disaster there. The county clerk’s office in Harris County, which includes Houston, reported that at least a dozen voting stations had lost electricity due to strong thunderstorms.
Dallas County prolonged voting until 9 p.m., and a judge in Kaufman County ordered voting to continue until 8 p.m., after workers installed generators at numerous polling places. Many Texas counties enable citizens to vote at any open polling location.
CHALLENGING CUELLAR
Republicans selected retired Navy veteran Jay Furman as their nominee for the November election, pitting him against Henry Cuellar, a former Democratic congressman indicted this spring on federal bribery, money laundering, and fraud charges. Cuellar has maintained his innocence, but three associates have pleaded guilty in connected investigations.
Furman beat rancher and businessman Lazaro Garza in Cuellar’s South Texas seat, which he had held since 2005. Both fought for stricter border security and immigration restrictions.
Another Cuellar is on the ballot: his sister, Rosie Cuellar, is running against Cecilia Castellano in the Democratic runoff for a South Texas state House seat. The March primary was held before Henry Cuellar was indicted; thus, it is unknown how his legal difficulties will affect her campaign.
In the November general election, Republican Don McLaughlin, who was mayor of Uvalde at the time of the school shooting, will face the winner.
