Around the Capitol

Rep. Four Price has indicated he’s interested in running for Speaker, should he be reelected. Price has a primary opponent, Drew Brassfield.

The Texas Senate is looking for messengers. Contact Jessica at (512) 463-0099 for information

From the Texas Tribune

House Republicans agree to select speaker candidate in caucus
Texas House Republicans agreed Friday to change their rules for selecting the next house speaker, potentially paving the way for a more conservative leader of the chamber in 2019.

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People on the Move

Victoria Ford is the new Chief Policy Officer at HHSC. She previously was the Health and Human Services Senior Advisor to former Gov. Rick Perry.

Stephanie Muth has been named the new Medicaid Director for Texas. She will replace Jami Snyder who left the agency in November.

Amanda Martin, most recently at the Texas Association of Business, has taken a new position with HHSC as its Government Affairs Director.

Mary Lynn Bunkley has moved from the Senate Education Committee to become the Governor’s education policy advisor.

Crosswind Media and Public Relations recently announced it has hired Katherine Carmichael and acquired Carmichael Communications & Consulting, a Texas-based energy and oil and gas public relations agency. Carmichael will serve as a vice president in Crosswind’s Austin, Texas office. Previously, Carmichael served as Director of Public Affairs for Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter.

Kandice Karla Sanaie, has left UnitedHealthcare to take a position handling regulatory and legislative affairs for the Central Region at Cigna.

David Repp has taken over as Chief Financial Officer at the General Land Office. He previously was Deputy Chief of Staff at HHSC.

Jim Cosgrove, who served as a Legislative Director in the House during the last session, is now the Campaign Manager for State Senate candidate
Shannon McClendon, who is running against Sen. Donna Campbell in the Republican primary.

Servando Esparza has become the South Regional Policy Manager at ofo, a station-free bike share platform and mobile app. He previously was the Manager of Government Affairs at TIPRO.

Geraldine “Tincy” Miller, one of the longest serving members of the State Board of Education, has announced her retirement from the SBOE.

Steve Brown, former American Heart Association lobbyist, has filed to run for US Rep. Pete Olsen‘s seat.

Melissa Hamilton has been appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott as Public Counsel for the Office of Public Insurance Counsel. She was previously director of Governmental Relations for the Department of Insurance.

Will Holleman, former COS to former Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, is returning from Aggieland to begin a position with the Texas Association of School Boards.

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Politics

Filing for the March primaries has ended and Patrick Svitek of the Texas Tribune has compiled a spreadsheet for every race on the primary and general election ballots next year, with all of the candidates who filed.

Additionally, lobbyist Dana Chiodo has a service, Texas Candidates, you can access (some parts for free, others require a subscription) that provides in-depth information about the candidates and each of the races on the ballot.

A summary of important Texas races post filing deadline:

Statewide officials

Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Land Commissioner George Bush, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick have both primary and general election opponents.

Attorney General Ken Paxton and Comptroller Glen Hegar have general election opponents.

Legislators not seeking reelection

Senate (1): Van Taylor

House (13) : Gooden, Cook, Schubert, Keough, Isaac, Larry Gonzales, Phillips, Laubenberg, Fallon, Giddings, Burkett, Straus, Roberts

Legislators with primary opponents only

Senate (1): Seliger

House (18 ): Paddie, Dennis Bonnen, Reynolds, Guillen, Munoz, Oliveira, Shine, Sheffield, Lang, Mary Gonzalez, Tracy King, Price, Johnson, Bernal, Huberty, Walle, Dutton, Thierry

Legislators with primary and general election opponents

Senate ( 6): Hall, Schwertner, Whitmire, Huffman, Campbell, Estes

House ( 30 ): Flynn, Schaefer, Clardy, Raney, Metcalf, Bailes, Faircloth, Guerra, Dukes, Workman, Cosper, Stuckey, Simmons, Biedermann, Ken King, Capriglione, Geren, Koop, Alonzo, Rodney Anderson, Villalba, Arevalo, Cortez, Uresti, Larson, Minjarez, Davis, Jarvis Johnson, Coleman, Swanson

Legislators with general election opponents only

Senate ( 6 ): Nichols, Bettencourt, Hancock, Burton, Watson, Huffines

House ( 56 ): Bell, Hefner, Wray, Kacal, Cryier, White, Wilson, Greg Bonnen, Miller, Zerwas, Thompson, Morrison, Holland, Herrero, Raymond, Lozano, Kuempel, Howard, Hinojosa, Murr, Charles Anderson, Ashby, Parker, Sheehan, Leach, Sanford, Lambert, Moody, Landgraf, Craddick, Burrows, Frullo, Stephensen, Smithee, Klick, Stickland, Krause, Tinderholt, Zedler, Goldman, Anchia, Neave, Meyer, Button, Rinaldi, Gervin-Hawkins, Paul, Oliverson, Allen, Schofield, Murphy, Elkins, Dale, Bohac, Perez, Alvarado,

Legislators with no opposition

Senate(1): West

House ( 33 ): VanDeaver, Dean, Phelan, Deshotel, Hunter, Longoria, Lucio, Martinez, Canales, Israel, Rodriguez, Burns, Phil King, Springer, Franks, Darby, Nevarez, Blanco, Ortega, Pickett, Romero, Collier, Turner, Rose, Davis, Gutierrez, Rodriquez, Cain, Wu, Thompson, Hernandez, Farrar, Vo

The following is a compilation put together over the last month or so for various statewide and legislative races, but is not a complete listing of all races or all candidates who have filed, so be sure to check one of the sources above for a complete listing.

Rep. Jeb Hensarling‘s seat has drawn Rep. Lance Gooden and former Rep. Kenneth Sheets among the Republican candidates.

Among those vying for retiring Rep. Lamar’s Smith seat will be Rep. Jason Isaac. Jenifer Sarver, a communications consultant from Austin has also filed as a Republican. Former Senator Ted Cruz‘ Chief of Staff and first assistant Texas attorney general Chip Roy has also filed as a Republican for the seat.

Rep. Gene Green‘s retirement announcement has drawn Sen. Sylvia Garcia into the race to replace him. Garcia will not have to give up her Senate seat since she is not up for re-election this cycle.

Beck Brunn, former Chairman of the Texas Water Development Board and former Perry staffer has resigned his post at the Water Board to challenge US Rep. Blake Farenthold.

Former State Rep. Norma Chavez has filed to run for the Congressional seat being vacated by US Rep. Beto O’Rourke.

Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez and Andrew White, son of the late former Governor Mark White have filed as Democrats to oppose Governor Greg Abbott.
Kathie Glass is running for a third time as a candidate for Governor from the Libertarian party.

Attorney Justin Nelson, a partner at Susman Godrey, announced he’s running as a Democrat for Texas Attorney General.

Comptroller Glen Hegar has announced for re-election. One Democrat, Tim Mahoney, has announced he is running against Hegar.

Former Sen. and Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has announced he’s running against current Land Commissioner George P. Bush in the primary. Democrat Miguel Suazo has indicated he will run for the position also.

Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has announced for re-election. Lobbyist Trey Blocker, most recently with Stalwart Strategies, has filed to run against Miller in the March 2018 primary. Jim Hogan, who ran as a Democrat for the seat in 2014 is running this time as a Republican.

Weston Martinez has filed as a Republican to challenge Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick.

Attorney Donna Davidson, a longtime Capitol presence, is running to replace Justice Bob Pemberton on the Texas Third Court of Appeals.

Jack Guerra has indicated he’s running as a Democrat for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Donna Campbell. Steven Kling is also running as a Democrat for the seat.

Beverly Powell, a Democrat, has announced she is running for SD 10, the seat currently held by Sen. Konni Burton.

Fran Watson has filed to run as a Democrat for SD 17, the seat currently held by Sen. Joan Huffman.

Sen. Kel Seliger has announced he’s running for re-election. He will have at least two Republican primary challengers.

Denton City Council member Keely Briggs is running as an Independent for the seat currently held by Sen. Craig Estes.

Former Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer has made it official that he will run to regain his old seat, currently held by Rep. Diana Arévalo

Rep. Larry Phillips, who is not seeking re-election, has announced he’s running for district judge in Grayson County. (h/t Evan Smith)

Sam Harless, wife of former Rep. Patricia Harless, has announced he’s running for the seat his wife formerly held and now held by Rep. Kevin Roberts, who has announced he’s running for a Congressional seat. Harless will have a Republican primary opponent, State Republican Executive Committee member Gail Stanart.

Several candidates have announced for Rep. Jason Isaac‘s seat. Among them, Republicans Amber Pearce, Amy Akers and Ken Strange, and three Democrats, Rebecca Bell-Metereau, Eric Zweiner and Les Carnes.

Jerome Sims, a tech entrepreneur, has announced he will run as a Democrat for the seat currently held by Rep. Stephanie Click.

Charles Lauersdorf has announced he’s running in the Republican primary for Rep. Cindy Burkett’s seat, along with two other Republicans and a Democrat, Rhetta Bowers. Burkett is challenging Sen. Bob Hall in the Republican primary.

Denise Hamilton has announced she’s running as a Democrat for the seat being vacated by Rep. Jodie Laubenburg. A Republican has also announced for that seat.

Adrian Spears is running for the seat being vacated by Speaker Joe Straus. He is one of at least four Republicans running for the seat

Whenzou Thomas Wang has announced he will challenge Rep. Garnet Coleman in the Democratic primary.

Joanna Cattanach has announced she is running as a Democrat for the seat currently held by Republican Rep. Morgan Meyer.

Linda Timmerman, a Dean at Navarro College, has announced she will run as a Republican to replace Rep. Byron Cook who is retiring at the end of his term. Thomas McNutt who came close to defeating Cook last time and Cody Cook, a Palestine businessman, are also in the race.

Wilvin Carter will challenge Rep. Ron Reynolds in the Democratic primary.

John Bucy is running as a Democrat against Rep. Tony Dale. Bucy ran against Dale in 2014.

Will Simpson, an Austin tech businessman, has announced he will run as a Democrat against Rep. Paul Workman.

Drew Landry, an assistant professor at South Plains College, has announced he will run for the seat currently held by Rep. Dustin Burrows.

Michael Rhea has announced he is running as a Republican for the seat being vacated by Rep. Pat Fallon. Fallon is running against Sen. Craig Estes in the March primary.

Dave Campbell, a Fredericksburg business owner, will challenge Rep. Kyle Biedermann in the Republican primary.

South San Antonio ISD member Connie Prado has announced she’s running as an Independent for the seat held by Rep. Philip Cortez. Cortez also has a Republican opponent for the general election, Carlos Antonio Raymond.

Veteran Larry Smith has announced he’s running against Rep. Scott Cosper in the Republican primary.

Grimes County Judge Ben Leman has announced he will resign his county position and run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Leighton Schubert.

Ramona Thompson has filed as a Democrat for Rep. Pat Fallon‘s seat. Fallon is challenging Sen. Craig Estes in the Republican primary.

Meghan Scoggins has filed as a Democrat to challenge Rep. John Zerwas in the general election next year.

Ashley McKee has filed as a Republican for the seat begin vacated by Rep. Lance Gooden

Rep. Mike Lang has drawn a primary opponent, Granbury ISD Superintendent Jim Largent.

Former Rep. John Lujan has filed to challenge Rep. Tomas Uresti to regain the seat he held for a brief period in 2016.

Former Senator Phil Gramm staffer James Wilson has filed as a Republican and will challenge Rep. Valoree Swanson in the March primary.

Brad Perry has filed to run as a Republican for the seat currently held by Democrat Rep. Victoria Neave.

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Miscellaneous

From the New Leadership PAC Press Release

NLP will participate in 2018 Texas Primaries to recruit and support new House leaders

Conservative leaders in Texas today announced formation of the New Leadership PAC (NLP), a response to failures of the state’s 85th Legislative Session and the subsequent special session that was called by Governor Greg Abbott.
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Upcoming Dates of Interest

Last day to register to vote in the primary: Feb 5, 2018
First day of early voting: Feb 20, 2018
Last day of early voting: March 2, 2018
March primary: March 6, 2017
Runoff election: May 22, 2017