Early Turnout Crosses 2% and Other News for February 17

Jeff Blaylock
Feb 17, 2022

Early voting for the March 1 primary election continues through February 25. Statewide, early voting turnout was just over 2% of registered voters through yesterday (Wednesday), the third day of the early voting period.

Campaign Finance: Today (Thursday) was the deadline for federal candidates seeking primary nominations to file their pre-primary reports. Our Crib Sheets are being updated as the reports become available online. We expect to have a breakdown of the totals and how those totals have historically signaled primary success (or failure) tomorrow (Friday).

AG (Lean R): U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) endorsed Lee Merritt (D).

SD10 (Likely R): The Fort Worth Star-Telegram endorsed Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) to face Sen. Beverly Powell (D-Burleson).

HD19 open (Safe R): Republican candidate Justin Berry was among 19 Austin police officers indicted in connection with the May 2020 protests in the city, reported the Austin American-Statesman’s Ryan Autullo.

HD147 open (Safe D): Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) announced he would resign effective February 28. A special election will be required to fill his unexpired term.

CD6 (Safe R): Former President Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Waxahachie). Trump endorsed Ellzey’s opponent, Susan Wright, in the 2021 special election won by Ellzey in a runoff.

CD12 (Likely R): Former President Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth). Trump endorsed Granger in 2020 when she was facing a spirited challenge from Chris Putnam.

CD15 open (Toss Up): Former President Trump endorsed Monica De a Cruz-Hernandez (R).

CD30 open (Safe D): Cryptocurrency traders’ PACs Protect our Future and WEB3 Forward have each spent nearly $1M in support of Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas), according to its latest report. Neither PAC has been required to disclose its donors yet.

CD38 open (Safe R): Former President Trump endorsed Wesley Hunt (R). Trump previously endorsed Hunt during his 2020 race for CD7.

Tarrant Co.: Former President Trump endorsed Phil Sorrells (R) for district attorney.

Mail Ballots: The Secretary of State’s office has been redirecting thousands of absentee ballot requests sent to it using reply envelopes supplied by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s (R) campaign, reported the Houston Chronicle's Cayla Harris. Absentee ballot requests must be sent to the voters’ county election officials, not the state. Friday is the deadline for voters to request absentee ballots.

©2022 Texas Election Source LLC

Jeff Blaylock

Senior News Editor
at
TXElects