Monday was the last day for Texas candidates to file to run for office in the 2022 elections.
The top of the ticket is set with former El Paso Congressman Beto O’Rourke against Gov. Greg Abbott, who is also facing a primary by multiple Republicans including former chairman of the Texas Republican Party Allen West and former Texas Senator Don Huffines. Radio journalist Joy Diaz also recently entered the race on the Democratic ticket.
Challenging Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on the Democratic ticket are former Texas House Rep. Michelle Beckley, auditor Mike Collier, and Texas Democrats Vice Chair Carla Brailey, who made a last-minute entrance into the race on Monday.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is being challenged by former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, civil rights lawyer Lee Merritt, and attorney Rochelle Garza.
Paxton also faces three Republican opponents in his primary, Land Commissioner George P. Bush, rightwing Congressman Louie Gohmert, and former state Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman.
Further down the ticket, business strategist Ángel Luis Vega is seeking the comptroller’s office from Glenn Hegar; cannabis lawyer Susan Hays is challenging Sid Miller for Texas agriculture commissioner; community organizer Jinny Suh is running for land commissioner, and Texas Democratic Party staffer Luke Warford is running for railroad commissioner.
March 1, 2022 is election day for primary races and Nov. 8, 2022 will be the date of the general election.
This will be the first major election day under the new redistricted maps.
Fernando covers Texas politics and government at the Texas Signal. Before joining the Signal, Fernando spent two years at the Houston Chronicle and previously interned at Houston’s NPR station News 88.7. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and enjoys reading, highlighting things, and arguing on social media. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email at fernando@texassignalarchive.com
