Good morning,

There are seven Republican runoff races for the Texas House.

We look at those in today's Texas Minute.

– Brandon Waltens

Monday, May 11, 2020
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• With all the talk of the Chinese coronavirus dominating the news cycle, it might be easy to forget there’s an election coming up. Originally scheduled for May, the primary runoff elections are currently slated for July 14. 

• HD 2: Dan Flynn vs. Bryan Slaton
  Runoffs rarely bode well for an incumbent lawmaker, and this race is shaping up to be no exception. Flynn was one of the most conservative lawmakers when first elected in 2003. For the last two sessions, however, he has received an F on the Fiscal Responsibility Index.
  
  Bryan Slaton, a conservative small businessman from Royse City, is going head-to-head with Flynn, highlighting his opponent’s dismal record on pro-taxpayer issues, as well as his lavish spending of campaign funds.
   
• HD 25: Ro’vin Garrett vs. Cody Vasut
  The race to replace departing Speaker Dennis Bonnen in the Texas House has been narrowed down to two candidates.
  
  Ro’vin Garrett has served as the tax-assessor collector in Brazoria County for 19 years, after working in the office for 16 years prior. For all that experience, however, Garrett was silent when legislation to offer property tax relief was placed in front of the legislature in 2017 and 2019, choosing not to testify. 
     
  Her opponent, Cody Vasut, is also no stranger to elected office, having been elected to the Angleton City Council. Vasut has been more outspoken on the issues than Garrett, campaigning on constitutional carry, private property rights, banning taxpayer-funded lobbying, and term limits.
         
• HD 26: Jacey Jetton vs. Matt Morgan
  When State Rep. Rick Miller (R–Sugarland) announced his retirement from the legislature, it appeared former Ft. Bend County GOP Chairman Jacey Jetton had the race in the bag, receiving the endorsement of Gov. Greg Abbott, Comptroller Glenn Hegar, as well as a slew of establishment political organizations.
     
  But in the primary election, Jetton placed second to Richmond businessman Matt Morgan, who nearly won the race outright. With no financial reports filed since March, however, it remains to be seen if Morgan can raise the funds necessary to secure a victory in July. 
      
• HD 45: Carrie Isaac vs. Bud Wymore
  This Republican-leaning Central Texas district fell into Democrat hands in 2018. Now two Republicans are vying for the chance to take it back.
     
  Carrie Isaac is the wife of former State Rep. Jason Isaac. Endorsed by several conservative organizations, and receiving 49% of the vote in March, Carrie Isaac is considered the favorite to win the race, even while questions about her role with a nonprofit to help disabled veterans secure employment has come under scrutiny.
     
  Her opponent, Bud Wymore, has taken criticism as well, including for his role in filing lawsuits against gun ranges, an action Wymore has characterized as standing up for property rights.
     
• HD 47: Jennifer Fleck vs. Justin Berry
  In another seat once considered safely Republican, this Travis County district was also taken by Democrats in 2018. 
     
  Jennifer Fleck, an activist most known for her work in the Capitol on family issues, took first place in March and has been endorsed by her former opponents Aaron Reitz and Don Zimmerman.
     
  In the runoff, she faces second-place finisher Justin Berry, a 12-year police officer who has been active in his work with the Austin Police Association.
      
• HD 59: J.D. Sheffield vs. Shelby Slawson
  As the fifth most-liberal Republican in the Texas House, it’s not exactly a surprise that Sheffield earned competition in the March primary.
     
  What was shocking, however, was his poor 30% finish in the three-way race, despite representing the district for four terms.
     
  He now faces Shelby Slawson, an attorney, small-business owner, and grassroots activist who has made Sheffield’s dismal record on conservative issues, such as gun rights and life, the centerpiece of her campaign.
     
• HD 60: Jon Francis vs. Glenn Rogers
  This race is a battle to keep one of the state’s most Republican districts, currently represented by retiring State Rep. Mike Lang (R–Granbury),  in conservative hands.
     
  Jon Francis, a longtime conservative activist, has been endorsed by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, Texas Right to Life, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, as well as Lang himself. His opponent has staked out his position as the establishment candidate, notably opposing constitutional carry and touting his support for taxpayer-funded lobbying on the campaign trail.

• As campaigns begin to heat up ahead of the election on July 14, Texas Scorecard will continue to bring you news and analysis from the campaign trail.

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