2018 Election Update

The 2018 election cycle is looking to be a busy one, with 7 congressional retirements and numerous State House retirements, including the Speaker of the House, Joe Straus. As such, the Legislative deck is being shuffled. Early voting for primaries begins on February 20, 2018, and primary Election Day lands on March 6, 2018. The March primaries will likely have a profound effect on the race for Speaker, with conservative and moderate wings of the Republican Party battling for the 76 votes needed to elect the next House presiding officer. Thus far, Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) and Rep. John Zerwas (R-Richmond) are the only members to formally announce their candidacy to replace Speaker Straus, others are expected to follow.

Of the 150-member Texas House, only 37 incumbents will be returning with a free pass in the primary and the general election. Of those 37 incumbents returning without any challenger, only 10 are Republicans… perhaps a sign of the Republican primary battles to come. In the Texas Senate, only 14 incumbents that will be returning are up for reelection (Senators run in staggered 4-year terms). Of those 14, only Senator Royce West (D-Dallas) escaped without any challenger in the primary or the general election.