The 2018 midterm elections feature an open field of candidates in cases where a longstanding officeholder is retiring. It’s also an election in which former officeholders are running to get their old jobs back, with one race already heating up with barbs thrown between the candidates on social media.
So with the midterm elections less than a year away, here are some battles in the March 6 primaries worth noting for South Texas voters.
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Texas Land Commissioner
Four years ago, former land commissioner Jerry Patterson, while running in a four-way primary for lieutenant governor, endorsed his successor George P. Bush for the job. But now, Patterson is unhappy with Bush’s level of transparency concerning both the Federal Emergency Management Agency housing plan for victims of Hurricane Harvey and the Alamo Restoration Project, and he wants his old job back.
George P. Bush, Republican: Bush is the incumbent elected to office in 2014. He is the grandson of a former president and the nephew of another. Campaign website
Jerry Patterson, Republican: Patterson held the position from 2003 to 2015 before an unsuccessful run for lieutenant governor. Campaign website
Davey Edwards, Republican: A professional land surveyor, Edwards filed as a Republican, using an address in Decatur for his campaign. Campaign website
Rick Range, Republican: A former schoolteacher from the Dallas area, Range filed as a Republican, using an address in Sherman for his campaign. Campaign website
Miguel Suazo, Democrat: The Austin-based attorney worked as an aide to former Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-New Mexico. Campaign Facebook page
Tex Morgan, Democrat: Morgan filed as a Democratic candidate, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign.
Congressional District 21
Just months before primary campaign season kicked off, longtime Congressman Lamar Smith announced he was retiring from political life. The move left an opening for a large number of big name Democrats and Republicans, who have long eyed a run for this congressional district seat, which includes parts of Austin and San Antonio.
Derrick Crowe, Democrat: Crowe has filed as a Democrat, using an address in Manchaca for his campaign. Campaign Facebook page
Joseph Kopser, Democrat: Kopser is an Austin tech executive and Army veteran who filed as a Democrat, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign. Campaign website
Elliott McFadden, Democrat: The executive director of Austin B-cycle, a popular bike share system, filed as a Democrat, using an address in Austin for his campaign. Campaign website
Mary Wilson, Democrat: The Austin Democrat is a former math teacher and is currently a church pastor. Campaign website
Matt McCall, Republican: McCall has filed to run as a Republican, using an address in Boerne for his campaign. Campaign website
Al Poteet, Republican: Poteet is a military veteran and a former executive with the Department of Veterans Affairs. He filed to run as a Republican, using an address in Johnson City for his campaign. Campaign website
Eric Burkhart, Republican: Burkhart filed as a Republican, using an address in Canyon Lake for his campaign. Facebook campaign page
Foster Hagen, Republican: Hagen has filed as a Republican, using an address in Austin for his campaign.
Ivan Andarza, Republican: Andarza is an attorney in Austin, who served on the board of the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation as an appointee of Gov. Rick Perry. Campaign website
Jason Isaac, Republican: The representative for Texas District 45 was first elected in 2010, defeating four-term Democratic incumbent Patrick Rose. Campaign website
Mauro Garza, Republican: Garza filed as a Republican, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign.
Peggy Wardlaw, Republican: Wardlaw filed as a Republican, using an address in San Antonio for her campaign. Campaign website
Robert Stovall, Republican: Stovall is a long-time friend of House Speaker Joe Straus and a former Bexar County GOP chairman. Campaign website
Samuel Temple, Republican: Temple filed as a Republican, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign.
Susan Narvaiz, Republican: Narvaiz is a San Antonio native and was the San Marcos mayor between 2004 to 2010. Campaign website
William Negley, Republican: Negley is the president of Sound-Off, an information technology-based nonprofit support network for military veterans. Negley also served as an intelligence officer for the Central Intelligence Agency. Campaign website
Congressional District 23
Texas Democrats continue their push to unseat Republican Congressman Will Hurd. Five Democrats have lined up to take on the incumbent in 2018.
Will Hurd, Republican: After serving 10 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, Hurd unseated Democrat Pete Gallego in 2014. Campaign website
Judy Canales, Democrat: Canales worked for the Department of Agriculture in the Obama administration. She has filed as a Democrat, using an address in San Antonio for her campaign. Campaign website
Jay Hulings, Democrat: Hulings is a federal prosecutor for the Western District of Texas. He has filed as a Democrat, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign. Campaign website
Gina Ortiz Jones, Democrat: A former Air Force intelligence officer, Ortiz Jones has filed as a Democrat, using an address in San Antonio for her campaign. Campaign website
Rick Trevino, Democrat: He is a former Sam Houston High School history teacher and a delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Trevino filed as a Democrat, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign.Campaign website
Angela Villescaz, Democrat: Villescaz filed as a Democrat, using an address in Uvalde for her campaign.
Alma Arredondo-Lynch, Republican: Arredondo-Lynch is a dentist from Uvalde. She filed as a Republican, using an address in Concan for her campaign. Campaign website
Congressional District 35
District 35 runs through parts of Austin and San Antonio.
Lloyd Doggett, Democrat: Doggett is the incumbent. He has also served in both the Texas House and the Texas Senate. Doggett has served in Congress since 2005. Campaign website
David Smalling, Republican: Smalling, an electrical contractor, filed as a Republican, using an address in Maxwell for his campaign. Campaign website
Sherrill Kenneth "SK" Alexander, Republican: Alexander filed as a Republican, using an address in Austin for his campaign. Campaign website
Texas House of Representatives District 116
Trey Martinez Fischer wants to return to the Texas House. Martinez Fischer left the House in 2014 to run against Jose Menendez for Leticia Van de Putte’s old Senate seat. He lost that election and has filed to run for his old seat.
Diana Arevalo, Democrat: Arevalo is the incumbent, winning the seat in 2016. She currently serves as the executive director of the Network of Young Artists, a non-profit afterschool music program for underprivileged students. Campaign website
Trey Martinez Fischer, Democrat: Martinez Fischer is a San Antonio-based attorney. Campaign website
Fernando Padron, Republican: Padron has worked for nonprofit groups. He filed as a Republican, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign. Campaign website
Texas House of Representatives District 121
This past summer, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, representing Texas House District 121, announced he would not seek re-election. A Democrat and several Republicans will campaign for the seat.
Celina Montoya, Democrat: Montoya works in her family's business in San Antonio. She filed as a Democrat, using an address in San Antonio for her campaign. Campaign website
Adrian Spears, Republican: Spears is the municipal prosecutor for Kyle and the presiding judge of Von Ormy. He filed as a Republican, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign. Campaign website
Carlton Soules, Republican: Soules is former San Antonio city councilman. He filed as a Republican, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign. Campaign website
Charlotte Williamson, Republican: Williamson filed as a Republican, using an address in San Antonio for her campaign.
Marc Whyte, Republican: Whyte is a San Antonio attorney. He filed as a Republican, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign. Facebook campaign page
Matt Beebe, Republican: Beebe is an Air Force veteran and businessman. He filed as a Republican, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign. Campaign website
Steve Allison, Republican: Allison is a member of the Board of Trustees of the VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority. He filed as a Republican, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign. Facebook campaign page
Texas House of Representatives District 122
Lyle Larson will run for a fifth term. This is the first time since winning the seat in 2010 that he will take on an opponent in the primaries.
Lyle Larson, Republican: He first held public office in 1991 as a San Antonio city councilman. He filed as a Republican, using an address in San Antonio for his campaign. Campaign website
Chris Fails, Republican: Fails is the mayor of Hollywood Park. He filed as a Republican, using an address in Hollywood Park for his campaign. Campaign website
Claire Barnett, Democrat: Barnett has filed as a Democrat, using an address in San Antonio for her campaign. Campaign website
Vince Kong can be reached at vince@tpr.org or on Twitter @teamvincek and Ryan Poppe can be reached at rpoppe@tpr.org or @RyanPoppe1
CORRECTION: Mary Wilson's place of residence has been updated.
