Democrat Joanna Cattanach is bearing state Rep. Morgan Meyer by six points, according to a new survey by Public Policy Polling. The poll shows 44% of voters support Cattanach, 38% back Meyer, and 18% are undecided. The Quorum Report first reported on the poll.
Cattanach and Meyer previously faced off in the 2018 election, with Meyer squeaking out a win by only 220 votes. By comparison, Meyer beat his Democratic opponent in 2014 by over 9,000 votes.
Much has changed since then.
Hillary Clinton carries Meyer’s district, which includes East Dallas and the ritzy Park Cities neighborhoods, by six points in 2016. The seat is prime target for Democrats looking to flip Texas House seats in 2020.
Cattanach decided to run when she was outraged by Meyer’s vote in favor of a law that allows state-funded adoption and foster care organizations to discriminate against LGBTQ families. The issue of foster care is personal to her; she and her brother were placed in the state’s foster care system at the age of three. As a journalism professor, Cattanach has made education reform a major focus of her campaign.
In 2018, Meyer was one of several Republicans who won by very narrow margins: Reps. Matt Shaheen won by 391 votes; Dwyane Bohac (retiring) by 47 votes; Angie Button by 1,110, and Jeff Leach by 1,672.
The battle for Texas has already begun, and it is proving to be an exciting one.
This story has been updated.
Photo: Morgan Meyer campaign website
