The Texas Legislature delegation from KETR’s service area is composed of three state senators and eight state representatives. In today’s primary elections, two Senate nominations and four House nominations – all on the Republican side – are up for grabs.
In Senate District 2, incumbent Bob Hall is defending his seat against challenger Cindy Burkett, a longtime state representative. District 2 includes Delta, Fannin, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Rains, Rockwall and Van Zandt counties; as well as eastern Dallas County. Democrat Kendall Scudder is already guaranteed to be his party’s nominee for the Senate District 2 office.
Senate District 30 is mostly a North Texas district, which stretches all the way past Wichita Falls. But the eastern edge of the district dips down into eastern Collin County. Incumbent Craig Estes is facing fellow Republicans Craig Carter and Pat Fallon in today’s primary. Kevin Lopez will be the Democratic nominee.
Republican State Senator Bryan Hughes’ District 1 seat is not on ballots during this election cycle. That district includes Franklin, Lamar, Red River and Wood counties, as well as other counties to the east and south.
On the House of Representatives side, incumbent Dan Flynn is battling Bryan Slaton for the GOP nomination in House District 2, which includes Hopkins, Hunt and Van Zandt counties. Bill Brannon will be the Democratic candidate for the seat.
House District 4 is guaranteed to have a new Republican nominee, as incumbent Lance Gooden is running for Congress. Ashley McKee, Earl Brunner, Keith Bell and Stuart Spitzer are in a four-way race for the GOP nomination. Eston Williams will be on November ballots for the Democratic Party. District 4 is composed of Henderson and Kaufman counties.
Another Republican state representative, District 62’s Larry Phillips, is retiring from office. That district includes Delta, Fannin and Grayson counties. Brent Lawson, Kevin Couch and Reggie Smith are the GOP contenders. Valerie Hefner will be the Democratic nominee.
In southeastern Collin County, Republican Jodie Laubenberg is also stepping down from political office. Candy Noble and John Payton are the GOP hopefuls looking to replace Laubenberg. Democrat Ray Ash will face the winner of that contest.
Gary VanDeaver is facing neither a Republican nor a Democratic challenger to represent District 1, which includes Bowie, Franklin, Lamar and Red River counties.
Three House races in November will face a Republican incumbent and a Democratic challenger, none of whom have opponents in today’s primaries. Those races include District 5 (Republican Cole Hefner and Democrat Bill Liebbe), District 33 (Republican Justin Holland and Democrat Laura Gunn) and District 70 (Republican Scott Sanford and Democrat Julie Luton). District 5 includes Rains and Wood counties, as well as other counties to the east; District 33 is composed of Rockwall and parts of Collin counties; and District 70 is entirely within Collin County.
