Democrats can pick up the Texas House next year, starting with a special election in November
Candidate filing closed last week for what should be a highly competitive special election in an extremely important legislative chamber this November.
Texas Democrats, who need to pick up just nine seats in the 150-member state House next year to win a majority, are hoping to whittle that target down by one by flipping the vacant 28th District in the Houston suburbs. That seat had been held for many years by Republican John Zerwas, who will resign at the end of September to become executive vice chancellor for health affairs of the University of Texas system.
Zerwas was first elected in 2006, easily defeating Democrat Dorothy Bottos 63-37. From then on, he coasted to re-election every two years, three times facing no competition. That abruptly changed in 2018, though, when Zerwas faced the first and only close call of his career. Zerwas beat back Democrat Meghan Scoggins 54-46, while Sen. Ted Cruz was just narrowly carrying this seat 51-48 over Beto O’Rourke—factors that may have played a role in Zerwas' decision to bail on the legislature.
Now, this once reliably Republican seat is in play, and it could offer Democrats a road map for retaking the state House next year for the first time since 2002. A large group of seven candidates is seeking this seat, six Republicans and one Democrat. The GOP field features attorney Tricia Krenek, physician Anna Allred, businesswoman Sarah Laningham; and three businessmen: Gary Gates, Gary Hale, and Clinton Purnell.
On the Democratic side, educator Eliz Markowitz, who lost a race for the state Board of Education 59-41 last year, is the sole candidate running. Local Democrats have coalesced around Markowitz, which may have played a role in other contenders staying out of the race.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/9/9/1884414/-Democrats-can-pick-up-the-Texas-House-next-year-starting-with-a-special-election-in-November
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