Rep. Jessica Farrar
Governor Greg Abbott today issued a proclamation announcing Tuesday, November 5, 2019 as the special election date to fill the Texas House of Representatives District 148 seat recently vacated by former Representative Jessica Farrar.
Candidates who wish to have their names placed on the special election ballot must file their applications with the Secretary of State no later than 5:00PM on Wednesday, September 4, 2019.
Early voting will begin on Monday, October 21, 2019.
That is the same as the special elections in HD28 and HD100. Already some candidates are circling around this, some of more interest to me than others.
Also on Monday, HISD Trustee Elizabeth Santos announced she is exploring a run to replace state Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, who announced her retirement last week. Santos, whose seat is not up for re-election until 2021, would not be required to vacate her position to run.
All due respect, but no. Not with all that is going on with the Board right now. I mean, I understand the desire to jump ship, but no.
One person says she’s in:
After 2018, several leaders asked if I planned to run again, my reply was- we have great seasoned leaders in my district. The Honorable @RepFarrar has served District 148 since 1994 and has earned the utmost respect for her decades of services, especially for women’s health issues & civil jurisprudence.
Like Jessica, I will also bring my legal background (19-year attorney) to this legislative office.
I ask for your support as I seek to uphold and bring continued progress to the community that I grew up with.
Vote Penny Morales-Shaw for 148.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you!
Shaw was a fine and hardworking candidate for Commissioners Court last year. She would be a fine member of the Legislature if elected.
Also considering the race, in a post that is not public, is John Gorczynski, currently serving as the Chief of Staff to Rep. Sylvia Garcia; he was also her Chief of Staff while she was in the State Senate. He would also be a fine member of the Legislature if elected.
I’m sure we’ll hear from others in short order, as September 4 is not far away. As with the specials that happened during the session, this will be a sprint, and it will also carry the need to run for the nomination in March. I feel pretty confident saying that the winner of the special will be the heavy favorite for the nomination (yes, I’m assuming a Dem will win), I’m just saying that this is a more-than-one-race deal. We’ll know soon enough.
Penny would make a good representative. Not sure that Santos will run, at least that is what I have heard.
Lui LaRotta, chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus, is considering running, and would have broad and strong support among local libertarian and Republican groups if he chooses to do so. He grew up in the Northside and now lives closer to the Heights.
Thank you Charles, it’s good to appear in your column once again!
Penny Morales Shaw
I hope to see LaRotta run for this position. He’d be great.