Vol 28, Issue 47 Print Issue

Holdouts, Laggards, and Court Watchers

Former state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, shown in 2011, took the reins as chancellor of the Texas Tech University System in 2014.
Former state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, shown in 2011, took the reins as chancellor of the Texas Tech University System in 2014.

Here's an interesting list: Incumbents who haven't filed yet. Some are waiting to see if the courts will change the political districts again. Some like to wait, to see whether any opponents surface, or to create a little tension to spark their campaigns. And some of the people on this list have probably filed, but their local party hasn't sent the names to the state party or put a list of filers up on the internet. Those are your caveats. Now, the lists:

Start near the top of the ballot, with Texas Supreme Court Justices David Medina and Don Willett, and go from there: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller; TCCA Judge Elsa Alcala; U.S. Reps. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler; Ted Poe, R-Humble; Sam Johnson, R-Plano; Ralph Hall, R-Rockwall; Jeb Hensarling, R-Mesquite; Joe Barton, R-Ennis; John Culberson, R-Houston; Michael McCaul, R-Austin; Mike Conaway, R-Midland; Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso; Bill Flores, R-Bryan; Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock; Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio; Pete Olsen, R-Sugar Land; Francisco "Quico" Canseco, R-San Antonio; Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin; John Carter, R-Georgetown; Pete Sessions, R-Dallas; and Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi.

Ken Mercer, R-San Antonio; Terri Leo, R-Spring; and Mavis Knight, D-Dallas, haven't filed to run for more time on the State Board of Education.

Senators on the not-filed list include Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands; and Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock.

In the House, where there are a lot of people, there are a lot of not-yet-filed incumbents (not including the 26 who've said they're not coming back): Dan Flynn, R-Van; Erwin Cain, R-Como; Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola; Leo Berman, R-Tyler; Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City; Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria; Raul Torres, R-Corpus Christi; Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville; Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville; Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin; Charles "Doc" Anderson, R-Waco; Van Taylor, R-Plano; Dee Margo, R-El Paso; Charles Perry, R-Lubbock; John Frullo, R-Lubbock; Jim Landtroop, R-Plainview; Todd Smith, R-Euless; Helen Giddings, D-Dallas; John Garza, R-San Antonio; Joe Straus III, R-San Antonio; and Ken Legler, R-Pasadena.