Midterm Elections: Primary Could Bring Changes In Some Races

CONROE, TX — The dust has barely settled on one of the most active midterm election season in recent memory, with early voting ending on Friday, which means the primary looms on Tueday, March 6.

The midterm important for Texans because the primaries are the start of midterm election season, and there will be changes on the horizon with U.S. Reps Ted Poe and Gene Green both announcing plans to retire.

But there other races on the Montgomery County ballot that will also bring voters to the polls this election season.

• In Texas Congressional District 8, US Rep. Kevin Brady, who chairs the Ways and Means committee, is unopposed in the Republican primary, and will face off in November against Steven David, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
• US Senator Ted Cruz who was once a Tea Party darling, may face a stiff challenge in the primary with four opponents barking for his seat. However, if he wins the challenge could be tougher with Democratic front runner US Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso) hoping benefit fro the falling popularity of Cruz.
• The Texas Governor’s Race, is among the most colorful with SECEDE Kilgore — the most interesting candidate to run for governor since Kinky Friendman — and Barbara Krueger hoping to unseat Gov. Greg Abbott in the Republican Primary. The Democrats are dangling Andrew White, son of late Gov. Mark White, as their top candidate. Others on the ballot include: Lupe Valdez, Adrian Ocegueda, Tom Wakely, Jeffrey Payne, Joe Mumbach ,Grady Yarbrough, James Jolly Clark, and Cedric Davis, Sr.
• In the Texas Lt. Governor’s Race, incumbent Dan Patrick faces a serious challenge from Scott Milder on the Republican ticket. The winner in that race faces off against either Michael Cooper or Mike Collier.
• In the races for state representative, Cecil Bell is running unopposed in District 3 and will face off against Lisa Seger in November. In Dstrict 15, Steve Toth, who lost to Keough in 2016, faces off aagainst Jackie Waters. The winner will take on Deomcratic challenger Lorena Perez McGill.

Then of course there are the county races.

The race for Montgomery County Judge is among the most watched with County Judge Craig Doyal facing a stiff challenge from State Rep Mark Keough.

The winner of that race will face off against Democrat John Stittleburg in November.

Keough who is a local pastor, has picked some key conservative endorsements in Montgomery County.
Doyal, however has history on his side, having served as a county commissioner before being elected county judge in 2014.

In recent months, however, Doyal has faced challenges on the commissioners court related to tollway construction through Montgomery County, and in 2016, Doyal and County Commissioner Charlie Riley were suspended from offices by the State Office of Judicial Conduct after they were both indicted for violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act.

That ruling was later reversed by the Ninth Court of Appeals and the charges were dismissed.
Other key races in Montgomery County include the race for Precinct 2 Commissioner where Riley is challenged by Brian Dawson, a local business man, and Greg Parker, a former Comal County Commissioner.

Whoever wins that contest will face Democrat Ron Keichline in November.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Clark also faces competition for the Republican nod with James Metts and Bob Bagley seeking the office.

The winner of this race, will win the election with no challenger in November.

There are other key races on the Montgomery County ballot including County Treasurer, County Clerk and District Clerk.

There are also propositons on the ballot.

Here is the full list of ballot propositions submitted by the SREC for inclusion on the 2018 Republican General Primary Election ballot:

• Texas should replace the property tax system with an appropriate consumption tax equivalent. Yes/No
• No governmental entity should ever construct or fund construction of toll roads without voter approval. Yes/No
• Republicans in the Texas House should select their Speaker nominee by secret ballot in a binding caucus without Democrat influence. Yes/No
• Texas should require employers to screen new hires through the free E-Verify system to protect jobs for legal workers. Yes/No
• Texas families should be empowered to choose from public, private, charter, or homeschool options for their children's education, using tax credits or exemptions without government constraints or intrusion. Yes/No
• Texas should protect the privacy and safety of women and children in spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers in all Texas schools and government buildings. Yes/No
• I believe abortion should be abolished in Texas. Yes/No
• Vote fraud should be a felony in Texas to help ensure fair elections. Yes/No
• Texas demands that Congress completely repeal Obamacare. Yes/No
• To slow the growth of property taxes, yearly revenue increases should be capped at 4%, with increases in excess of 4% requiring voter approval. Yes/No
• Tax dollars should not be used to fund the building of stadiums for professional or semi-professional sports teams. Yes/No

The Texas Democratic Party has placed a dozen propositions on its ballot:

• Should everyone in Texas have the right to quality public education from pre-k to 12th grade, and affordable college and career training without the burden of crushing student loan debt? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to refinance student loan debt with the Federal Reserve at a 0% interest rate, as relief for the crushing burden of debt and an investment in the next generation of Americans? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have a right to healthcare, guaranteed by a universal, quality Medicare-for-all system? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to economic security, where all workers have earned paid family and sick leave and a living wage that respects their hard work? Yes/No
• Should the Democratic Party promote a national jobs program, with high wage and labor standards, to replace crumbling infrastructure and rebuild hurricane damaged areas, paid for with local, state, and federal bonds financed through the Federal Reserve at low interest with long term maturities? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to a life of dignity and respect, free from discrimination and harassment anywhere, including businesses and public facilities, no matter how they identify, the color of their skin, who they love, socioeconomic status, or from where they come? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to affordable and accessible housing and modern utilities including high speed internet, free from any form of discrimination? Yes/No
• Should every eligible Texan have the right to vote, made easier by automatic voter registration, the option to vote by mail, a state election holiday, and no corporate campaign influence, foreign interference, or illegal gerrymandering? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to a fair criminal justice system that treats people equally and puts an end to the mass incarceration of young people of color for minor offenses? Yes/No
• Should there be a just and fair comprehensive immigration reform solution that includes an earned path to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants and their children, keeps families together, protects DREAMers, and provides workforce solutions for businesses? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to a fair tax system, where all interests (business, corporations, and individuals) pay their share, so that state government meets its obligations? Yes/No

Click here to found out what else on the ballot.

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