The May 28 runoff elections are highlighted by House Speaker Dade Phelan’s fight for political survival in a race that could change the face of Texas legislative politics, but there’s a lot more at stake for voters.
Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, is trying to fend off a challenge from David Covey, the former chairman of the Orange County Republican Party. Covey won the first round by a 46% to 43% margin.
A candidate must win at least 50% of the vote to win a primary outright.
Money won’t be a problem for either candidate, so the race hinges on who can mobilize their supporters in what’s expected to be a low-turnout race.
While the Phelan-Covey contest is the most important on the May 28 ballot, other contests will affect the local political landscape.
Let’s take a look at three impactful races in North Texas.
Incumbent Justin Holland of Rockwall is one of five House Republicans representing Collin County whom Attorney General Ken Paxton targeted for defeat in the primary after they voted to impeach him last year. The Senate cleared him on charges of corruption and abuse of power on a mostly party-line vote in September.
Holland, one of the Republicans who blocked a plan similar to private school vouchers sought by Gov. Greg Abbott, caught a break in the March 5 primary when the governor was neutral in his race against Katrina Pierson, the national spokesperson for then-candidate Donald Trump’s 2016 White House campaign.
Abbott stepped in soon after the primary, endorsing Pierson and holding a rally for her in Rockwall. Holland now has Paxton and Abbott working against him. Abbott spent about $6 million on his slate of candidates for the primary.
Holland has represented the district since 2017 and has touted a record of conservative accomplishments that resulted in a “Courageous Conservative” award from the Texas Conservative Coalition.
In the March 5 results, Pierson narrowly led with 39.5% of the vote to Holland’s 38.7%. Dennis London got nearly 22%.
The District 33 race is Pierson’s second run for major political office. In 2014 she mounted an unsuccessful primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, the Republican who at the time represented Dallas-area District 32.
When Lupe Valdez resigned as Dallas County sheriff in late 2017 to run for governor against Abbott, she backed Marian Brown — her third in command — as her successor. After being appointed interim sheriff, Brown won the 2018 sheriff’s race and was reelected in 2020 to a four-year term. She is the first Black woman to lead the department.
Now Valdez wants her old job back and is staging a serious challenge against her former ally.
Valdez, both the first Latina and first lesbian to serve as Dallas County sheriff, was initially elected in 2004, two years before Democrats took control of Dallas County politics by winning every contested countywide race.
She criticized Brown’s performance and said elected officials and community leaders urged her to seek a fifth term. Her platform includes boosting morale among county jailers and sheriff’s deputies and addressing issues that she says led to a rise in the jail population.
Brown directed the department through the COVID-19 pandemic, and under her watch the jail passed its 2023 state inspection.
She has said throughout the campaign that it’s important to continue to improve and modernize the office.
In politics it’s hard to beat an incumbent, even if you previously held the job.
Brown finished ahead of Valdez 44% to 38% in March in a five-candidate race.
State Rep. Craig Goldman had a 44% to 26% lead over construction company owner John O’Shea in the March primary to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Kay Granger in Fort Worth-anchored District 12.
A top lieutenant of the House speaker, Goldman has the backing of most of the Tarrant County GOP establishment, as well as Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Abbott and former Gov. Rick Perry.
O’Shea, who is running an America First campaign, is endorsed by Paxton.
The race is a test of whether establishment Republicans in Tarrant County can win a district that includes hotbeds of the hard-right conservatism.
Historically, establishment politicians from both parties have thrived in the district.
Granger, who was the first Republican woman to represent Texas in the U.S. House, succeeded Fort Worth lawyer and Democrat Pete Geren. Before Geren, the district was represented by former House Speaker Jim Wright, D-Fort Worth, from 1955 to 1989.
Over the years the district has become more conservative. As Tarrant County became a hub for the Tea Party and Make America Great Again movements, Granger survived several challenges from the GOP’s right flank.
District 12 includes western Tarrant County and much of downtown Fort Worth. It extends into rural areas of Parker County. Goldman has to win big in Tarrant County to offset potential O’Shea voters in Parker County.
Granger’s departure leaves North Texas without a powerful voice in Washington but offers a new era in Tarrant County politics.