Original Article on The Epoch Times By Tom Ozimek
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has announced that a special election will be held to fill a congressional seat that Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s (D-Texas) recent death left vacant.
This special election to elect someone to serve out the remaining two months of Jackson Lee’s term will take place on the same day as the general election, where voters will also choose who will represent the traditionally Democrat district for the full two-year term starting in 2025.
This decision has sparked some controversy, with critics arguing that having two elections for the same seat on the same day will cause voter confusion.
A request for further clarification about Doyle’s “gamesmanship” remarks sent to the Harris County Democrats was not immediately returned.
It seems apparent that Abbott’s decision to create the special election could force Democrats to divert resources and attention to the short-term election, spreading them thinner as they also campaign for the full-term seat. This could weaken Democrat candidates’ campaigns and bolster the chances that a candidate not aligned with the Democratic Party will perform better in the general election.
Abbott’s press secretary did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the criticism.
Candidates interested in running in the special election must submit their applications to the Texas Secretary of State by Aug. 22, per Abbott’s order. Early voting for both the special and general elections has been set for Oct. 21 and will end on Nov. 1, per the Texas Election Code.
No names have yet been floated for the special election.
However, a number of individuals have thrown their hat in the ring for the full-term election. Former Houston City Council Member Amanda Edwards has announced she will run for the full-term, as have former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston City Council Member Letitia Plummer, state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, former City Council Member Dwight Boykins, and state Rep. Christina Morales, all Democrats.
