RandySF
RandySF's JournalTexas Democrats field candidates for every federal and state legislative race.
For the first time in several cycles, Democrats are fielding candidates in every federal and state legislative race in Texas. Among the targeted seats, Morales singled out three Democratic candidates who are running unopposed in their primaries — Zach Hebert in HD 112, Kristian Carranza in HD 118 and Zach Dunn in HD 121 — as contenders who “can relate to the community there and have the right messaging.”
“Republicans have been so good about putting us on the defense, but I want us to focus on being on the offense this time around,” Morales said.
The DLCC has yet to release its own list of Texas House seats that it plans to target.
Democrats have only lost ground in the Texas House since 2018, when the party picked up 12 seats in the lower chamber. In 2020, Democrats failed to net any districts despite a well-financed effort aimed at flipping control of the chamber. With both chambers remaining under GOP control, Republicans redrew district lines in 2021 that helped them pick up three Democratic seats in 2022 and two more in 2024.
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/10/texas-house-legislature-election-2026-national-democrats/
These are the key Texas races for Congress in 2026
In the 34th District, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez ranks among the most vulnerable House incumbents as he seeks a sixth term. The Democrat, who outperformed the top of the ticket last year, has criticized his party for moving too far to the left on abortion and transgender rights. A bevy of Republicans have filed to challenge him, including former Rep. Mayra Flores, who’s twice lost to Gonzalez, Army veteran Eric Flores and businessman Scott Mandel. Inside Elections rates the race a Toss-up.
In the 28th District, Democrat Henry Cuellar has a well-known brand and a culturally moderate voting record that has contributed to his staying power. He had been facing bribery, money-laundering and conspiracy charges but won a “full and unconditional” pardon from Trump last week. While Trump’s move — which he later expressed regret over after Cuellar filed for reelection as a Democrat — effectively neutralized a political attack, Republicans remain confident that the Laredo-centered seat is winnable. They’ve landed a top recruit to take on the longtime incumbent, with Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, a former Democrat, entering the race last week. Inside Elections rates the race Tilt Democratic.
Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz is running for reelection in the 15th District, a Rio Grande Valley seat that was largely unchanged in redistricting. Democratic hopes rest with Tejano singer Bobby Pulido, who is already a household name in the region with two Latin Grammy Awards under his belt. But he must first get past emergency medicine physician Ada Cuellar in the primary.
https://rollcall.com/2025/12/10/texas-candidates-midterm-elections-redistricting/
National Democrats put Texas House on list of legislative targets for 2026
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the party’s national arm that targets legislative races, announced Wednesday that it plans to put resources into Texas next year for the first time since 2020.
The national interest reflects Democratic optimism that the 2026 cycle will provide a favorable political climate for the party, amid President Donald Trump’s flagging approval ratings and voter dismay over the state of the economy.
In Texas, the effort to flip GOP-controlled state House districts will be led by the House Democratic Campaign Committee. The group announced Wednesday that state Rep. Christina Morales of Houston will serve as its chair for the 2026 cycle, replacing state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat who is running for governor.
Morales told The Texas Tribune that the HDCC initially plans to target four seats Democrats tried and failed to flip in 2024, and one of the two seats Democrats lost:
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/10/texas-house-legislature-election-2026-national-democrats/
Appeals court deals final blow to GOP's elections rulebook challenge
After nearly two years of court rulings, with wins and losses on both sides, one of the Republican challenges to Arizona’s elections ruleboo
On Dec. 5, the Arizona Court of Appeals dismissed a legal challenge to the state’s 2023 Election Procedures Manual, brought by the Republican National Committee, the Arizona Republican Party and the Yavapai County Republican Party
Every two years, the secretary of state is tasked with creating a new EPM, outlining procedures and rules for county elections officials to implement state election laws when they conduct elections in the state. The manual carries the force of law, and must be approved by the governor and attorney general — offices both currently held by Democrats — before it’s published.
Republicans heavily criticized the 2023 manual and the not-yet-finalized 2025 version. They said that multiple guidelines and rules added by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, conflicted with state law. In February 2024 when they filed the lawsuit, the RNC said that the 2023 EPM was “designed to undermine election integrity in Arizona.”
https://azmirror.com/2025/12/10/appeals-court-deals-final-blow-to-gops-elections-rulebook-challenge/
Independent voters file Commonwealth Court lawsuit to end closed primaries in Pa.
A group of five independent voters including political commentator Michael Smerconish filed a lawsuit Wednesday asking a Pennsylvania court to end the commonwealth’s bar against independent voters participating in primary elections.
Under Section 2812 of the Election Code, people who are not registered as members of the two major political parties cannot vote in partisan primaries.
The group, which also includes David Thornburgh, chairman of Ballot PA Action and son of former Gov. Dick Thornburg, argues the provision is unconstitutional.
It violates the right “to cast an equally weighted vote” and to “have an equal opportunity to translate votes into representation,” enshrined in the Free and Equal Elections Clause of the state Constitution, the lawsuit claims.
https://penncapital-star.com/briefs/independent-voters-file-commonwealth-court-lawsuit-to-end-closed-primaries-in-pa/
VA-HD77: Richmond gears up for another special election, this time for state House
Richmonders have another special election on tap for the new year, and another party primary coming up this weekend.
Why it matters: Election season seems to never end in RVA.
Driving the news: The special election for Del. Mike Jones' House of Delegates seat is set for Jan. 6, House Speaker Don Scott announced Tuesday.
Jones defeated Del. Debra Gardner in last weekend's Democratic primary to become the party's candidate for Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi's state Senate seat.
https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/12/10/richmond-special-election-2025-house-district-77-mike-jones
IA-SD16: Early voting has begun for 2 Iowa Senate special election candidates
As snow falls and temperatures drop in Polk County, two candidates are getting ready for the state's final election of 2025.
Democrat Renee Hardman and Republican Lucas Loftin are competing in a special election for Iowa Senate District 16, which includes parts of West Des Moines, Clive and Windsor Heights.
Gov. Kim Reynolds set the election for Dec. 30 following the death of Sen. Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines, in October. Early voting has begun starting Wednesday, Dec. 10.
A potential Republican supermajority hinges on the election outcome as Democrats seek to hold the seat and prevent Republicans from increasing their caucus to 34 members.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/12/10/iowa-senate-special-election-west-des-moines-candidates/87588109007/
Three rural ambulance board seats up for February 2026 election
ALEXANDRIA — There’s much to be decided for the rural ambulance district at its next meeting.
The Davison Hanson Ambulance District board met on Tuesday, Dec. 9 in Alexandria at the Hanson County Courthouse. The board formed a sub-committee to verify properties in each county. Ultimately, the board tabled both the discussions on tax-exempt properties and on the 2027 special assessment. The board set the date for the election of three board positions with terms ending in 2026 for Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
Board vice president Kyle Baker, and board members John Millan and Brian Leitheiser are up for election in 2026. No county-wide election, such as the one that determined board members will happen for the ambulance district board positions. The election follows a township model, where registered voters present in the room at the time of election will be able to cast a vote.
“Whoever is here votes, just like a township board meeting,” ambulance board attorney Jim Davies said.
https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/three-rural-ambulance-board-seats-up-for-february-2026-election
Republican wins special election for NW Iowa House seat (replacing Republican)
DES MOINES, Iowa — Republican Wendy Larson won a special election for Iowa House District 7, in northwest Iowa.
This means Republicans will continue to have a supermajority in the Iowa House. Larson is from Odebolt and will take over for Mike Sexton, a Republican from Rockwell City.
He resigned to accept a position appointed by President Donald Trump in September. Sexton is now the Director for USDA Rural Development in Iowa.
Larsen received a little over 70% support in Tuesday special election while her Democratic opponent, Rachel Burns, received nearly 30%.
https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/republican-wins-special-election-for-nw-iowa-house-seat
City Council debates if moving election date from May to November could boost voter turnout, save money
SAN ANTONIO – On Wednesday, the San Antonio City Council debated whether to move its city council elections from May to November in odd-numbered years.
The charge to move the election date is being led by Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, who learned about the possibility after reading in November about Dallas adjusting its election cycle. Jones said making a similar change could save San Antonio roughly $1 million and help drive higher voter turnout.
With Dallas and Houston now holding elections in November of odd-numbered years and Austin holding them in November of even-numbered years, Jones said San Antonio is the last big city in Texas to hold its elections in May.
She is supported by a number of local groups and her predecessor, Ron Nirenberg, but it’s not yet clear where the majority of the city council stand on the idea.
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/12/10/city-council-to-debate-if-moving-election-date-from-may-to-november-could-boost-voter-turnout-save-money/
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Gender: MaleHometown: Detroit Area, MI
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Current location: San Francisco, CA
Member since: Wed Oct 29, 2008, 01:53 PM
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