Gov. Rick Perry has called a January 13 special election for House District 13 to fill the seat of former house member Lois Kolkhorst, a Republican from Brenham who was recently sworn in as a Senator. Kolkhorst replaced newly-elected Comptroller Glenn Hegar in Senate District 18 and will serve the remaining two years of his term – she will be up for reelection in 2016.
Candidates for the seat must file applications with the Secretary of State no later than December 29. The early voting period begins January 5. Potential candidates in the race include Republicans Becky Berger, a geologist and former Railroad Commission candidate, Austin County Judge Carolyn Bilski, and Democrat Cecil Webster, a retired Army colonel.
The filing deadline has passed for the three January 6 special elections in Senate District 26 (Sen. Leticia Van de Putte), House District 17 (Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt) and House District 123 (Rep. Mike Villarreal). Major-party candidates include:
SD 26
Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D – San Antonio
Rep. Jose Menendez, D – San Antonio
Al Suarez, D – Converse (Mayor )
Alma Perez Jackson, R – San Antonio (SREC member)
Joan Pedrotti, R – San Antonio (former county court administrator)
HD 17
Brent Golemon, R – Bastrop (Bastrop County water district treasurer)
John Cyrier, R – Lockhart (former Caldwell County Commissioner)
Shelley Cartier, D – Cedar Creek (event organizer)
Ty McDonald, D – Bastrop (former school board member)
HD 123
Diego Bernal, D – San Antonio (former City Council member)
Melissa Aguillon, D – San Antonio (PR executive)
Walter Martinez, D – San Antonio (former City Council member)
Nunzio Previtera, R – San Antonio (SREC member)
Important Dates
December 29 – Early voting begins for SD 26, HD 17, HD 123; Filing deadline for HD 13
January 5 – Early voting begins for HD 13
January 6 – Election day for SD 26, HD 17, HD 123
January 13 – Election day for HD 13; First day of 84th Legislative Session
