Gov. Rick Perry has set Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, as the special election date to fill three legislative seats that are being vacated: Senate District 26 (Sen. Leticia van de Putte), House District 17 (Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt) and House District 123 (Rep. Mike Villarreal).
In HD 17, Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt decided to resign his House seat to become the general counsel for the Agriculture Commission for newly elected Ag. Commissioner Sid Miller. Republicans John Cyrier, former Caldwell County commissioner, and Brent Golemon, Bastrop County Water District treasurer, as well as Democrat Ty McDonald, former Bastrop ISD trustee, have all filed to run in the HD 17 special election.
In HD 123, Rep. Mike Villarreal decided not to return to his role as a State Rep. but instead to run for Mayor of San Antonio. Candidates who have filed to run in the HD 123 special election include Democrats Melissa Aguillon, former San Antonio City Council members Diego Bernal and Walter Martinez, and Republican Nunzio Previtera.
In SD 26, Sen. Leticia Van de Putte also decided to run for Mayor of San Antonio. Van de Putte lost her recent bid to be elected Lieutenant Governor to fellow Senator Dan Patrick. Two sitting State Reps. have announced that they will run in the special election to replace Van de Putte, Democrats Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer and Rep. Jose Menendez. If either of them are successful in replacing Van de Putte an additional special election will be necessary to fill their vacated House seat. Democrats Al Suarez, Mayor of Converse, and former State Rep. Sylvia Romo have also filed to run in the SD 26 special election.
Candidates for all three seats must file applications with the Secretary of State no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 22, 2014. The early voting period begins Monday, Dec. 29, 2014.