As you may have noticed, the “Weekly Campaign Round-up” hasn’t exactly been weekly lately. Sometimes life has a way of getting in the way. This website has also been getting an exciting new overhaul. So without further ado, here is where the 2022 primary currently stands:
Governor:
Texas Governor Greg Abbott continues to be the undisputed frontrunner in his bid to win a third term. With the campaign finance report numbers out, he has raked in a staggering amount of cash. However, he cannot seem to escape the deep dissatisfaction among many in the GOP base over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
So far Abbott has drawn three major primary challengers: former State Sen. Don Huffines, former Congressman and Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West, and entertainer Chad Prather.
Huffines is garnering some attention recently after picking up a high-profile endorsement from U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY). However, Abbott still has the ultimate endorsement in Republican circles: Donald J. Trump.
Attorney General:
While Abbott is the odds on favorite to win re-election, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s odds of keeping his seat are significantly lower. Weakened politically by an indictment, whistleblowers, and a state bar investigation, Paxton has drawn two credible primary challengers: Land Commissioner George P. Bush and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman. Trump has said he will weigh in on the race, but still has yet to do so.
Agriculture Commissioner:
Although Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller toyed with the idea of running for governor, he ultimately decided against it and announced he will run for re-election to his current post. However, he will have a pretty big fight on his hands. State Rep. James White (R-Hillister) has announced he will challenge Miller in the primary. White, who represents a swath of southeast Texas in the legislature, will be a serious contender.
Land Commissioner:
State Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R-Lakeway) is emerging as the frontrunner to replace Bush as Land Commissioner- at least so far. She has recently picked up some influential endorsements, including Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a major donor in Texas politics.
6th Congressional District:
Voters in the Fort Worth area continue to head to the polls for early voting in the special election for Texas’ 6th Congressional District. The seat became vacant earlier this year when Congressman Ron Wright succumbed to Covid-19. Out of a crowded field, the race has narrowed down to two Republicans after Democrats failed to even make the runoff. The frontrunner is Wright’s widow, Susan Wright. She is facing State Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Waxahachie), who is being pushed by former governor Rick Perry. However, Wright is endorsed by Trump and Club for Growth, and has a substantial lead in the polling. Election Day is July 27.
8th Congressional District:
The race to replace retiring Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) in the suburbs north of Houston has yet to fully materialize. Redistricting has kept everything in the air, as potential candidates wait to see what will happen. Navy SEAL Morgan Luttrell, brother of Lone Survivor Marcus Luttrell, currently has the spotlight as the only top tier candidate in the race at this time. He has raked in an impressive amount of campaign contributions and garnered the support of several local elected officials in Montgomery County.
However, although formidable, Luttrell is not a shoe-in. CD-08 looks like it could be shaping up to be a three man race between Luttrell, State Rep. Steve Toth (R-Conroe), and former Brady campaign manager Christian Collins. Although neither Collins nor Toth have announced yet, they are considering it, and making all the right moves to position themselves for a congressional run.
Texas Citizen Journal 