Most GOP Reps for AG's Impeachment
Facing Primary Opposition as Payback
Capitol Inside
December 7, 2023
More than two out of every three Texas House Republicans who voted for Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment are facing primary foes in 2024 with the possibility for more drawing first-round opposition in the final four days before the filing deadline for 2024 on Monday night.
According to an ongoing Capitol Inside assessment of the damage from the failed impeachment quest, 41 out of 60 GOP representatives who voted to oust the three-time elected state lawyer are facing opposition on the primary ballot in March. Three House Republicans who opposed Paxton's impeachment have attracted opposition in round one as well.
The running count by Thursday afternoon had a record-destroying 43 incumbent Republicans facing first-round competition from rivals who've filed to run or say they will before the window closes. Less than 24 House Republicans on average have encountered primary opposition during the five most recent election cycles.
Thirty GOP incumbents in the Legislature's lower chamber faced primary foes in 2022 - a jump due in large part to redistricting the year before. The House had a record 31 Republicans doing battle with rivals in the first round of the 2017 election. That mark is falling hard now.
Nineteen House Republicans have clear paths in the 2024 primary so far - including 10 who voted against impeachment and nine who backed the bid to throw Paxton out. That number could shrink in the next few days.
Thirteen of 21 Republican representatives who teamed up with Democrats to kill a school choice plan last month have primary opponents. But State Rep. Travis Clardy of Nacogdoches is the only Republican with primary opposition after opposing the AG's impeachment and education savings accounts as well. That means that a dozen House Republicans have primary foes slamming them on impeachment and vouchers alike.
Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton could be doing battle with each other in at least 28 House primary fights that feature Republican incumbents who supported ESAs and impeachment as well. Paxton would be thrilled to see every single House Republican who turned against him in the spring to go down in the primary next year. But the AG is focusing most on Speaker Dade Phelan and his top allies who had the most significant roles in the failed attempt to destroy his career.
The Capitol Inside Texas Races to Watch in 2024 with House Republicans includes State Reps. Jeff Leach of Allen and David Spiller of Jacksboro ranked 2nd and 4th respectively in primary duels with Allen City Council member Daren Meis and activist Keri Kingsbery of Tioga. Leach had not filed by this afternoon but has appeared to be running again nonetheless.
Spiller served as a member of the committee that conducted a secret Paxton probe at a whirlwind pace - and he represented the House in the group of managers who Phelan appointed to prosecute the case. Leach was on the House managers team and had a key supporting part with a closing argument on Paxton had hurt him when he lost interest in a close friendship they had in the past.
State Reps. Briscoe Cain of Deer Park and Morgan Meyer of Dallas - a pair of Republicans on the House managers team as well - also have primary opponents gunning for them now in races that are currently ranked among the 10 hottest. Veteran Republican State Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth faces a first-round foe as well as a member of the Paxton investigating committee and impeachment managers.
Rookie Republican State Rep. Kronda Thimesch of Lewisville is fighting for survival in the face of primary opposition from Paxton impeachment defense lawyer Mitch Little in the number three rated race on the House incumbent watch list. Thimesch voted to impeach the AG.
Nine House Republicans have announced plans to step down from the lower chamber without re-election races next year. That group includes State Rep. Andrew Murr of Junction - the House General Investigating Committee chairman and lead House impeachment manager who vowed to suffer consequences of actions before pulling the plug abruptly from a re-election campaign instead last month.
Nine of the 60 House Republicans who backed impeachment had yet to draw any primary opponents by Thursday afternoon. But 10 of 23 Republicans who opposed the push to oust Paxton could be poised to run unopposed with no obstacles in their way up to now.
more to come ...
| |
OFFICE |
CANDIDATES |
|
| 1 |
RRC |
Christi Craddick (R-Inc) |
Jim Matlock (R) |
| |
|
Bill Burch (D) |
|
| |
DISTRICT |
CANDIDATES |
|
| 1 |
SD 15 |
Molly Cook (D) |
Todd Litton (D) |
| |
SD 15 |
Karthik Soora (D) |
Joseph Trahan (R) |
| 2 |
SD 30 |
Cody Clark (R) |
Carrie de Moor (R) |
| |
SD 30 |
Brent Hagenbuch (R) |
Michael Braxton (D) |
| |
SD 30 |
Matthew McGhee (D) |
|
| |
DISTRICT |
SENATE REPUBLICANS |
|
| 1 |
SD 7 |
Paul Bettencourt (R-Inc) |
Nasir Malek (D) |
| 2 |
SD 8 |
Angela Paxton (R-Inc) |
Rachel Mello (D) |
| 3 |
SD 10 |
Phil King (R-Inc) |
Andy Morris (D) |
| |
DISTRICT |
SENATE DEMOCRATS |
|
| 1 |
SD 27 |
Morgan LaMantia (D-Inc) |
Adam Hinojosa (R) |
|
|
|
