Gov. Greg Abbott focused on school choice fight as Texas primary races take shape

As the candidate filing deadline for the March primaries closed Monday, the races are set for Republicans and Democrats to finalize their picks for a slate of offices. At the Capitol, the state's top two officeholders are backing candidates who want to pass school choice in Texas, even propping up challengers to incumbents from their own party who have rejected such proposals.

Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, both Republicans, have endorsed several candidates who are challenging GOP Texas House members who ultimately helped thwart Abbott's calls to pass legislation to create education savings accounts — also known as vouchers or school choice — through multiple legislative sessions this year.

Announcing a string of endorsements in the weeks leading up to Monday's filing deadline, Abbott has said he will fight for school choice this election cycle. The primaries will be March 5.

"The governor will continue to work with Texas legislators and at the ballot box to get school choice for all Texas families," Renae Eze, Abbott's communications director, told the American-Statesman as the fourth called special session of the year ended last week.

Patrick has also voiced frustration with House members who voted against school choice proposals, saying he stands by Abbott in promoting candidates who will advance such measures.

However, most of Patrick's ire has been directed at House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, whose chamber during the regular legislative session and two subsequent special sessions defeated school choice proposals and over the summer overwhelmingly voted to impeach embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton on 20 charges, including bribery and abuse of office. Ultimately, the Senate, which Patrick leads, acquitted Paxton of any wrongdoing.

"My ask is for every Republican primary voter to ask the incumbent if they are voting for Dade Phelan as Speaker again, and if they say 'yes,' then that voter should vote for their opponent," Patrick said in a campaign statement last week.

Through a series of intraparty challenges backed by Abbott, Patrick and Paxton as well as officials' retirements, departures and new jobs, the Capitol's makeup will be changing for the next legislative session.

Sen. John Whitmire leaves Capitol for Houston

The Texas Senate will feel different come 2025 as Democratic Sen. John Whitmire, who has served in the chamber for five decades, is leaving his longtime seat to serve as Houston's next mayor.

His tenure began in 1973, and his departure comes after he defeated U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, on Saturday to lead the largest city in Texas.

Over his Senate career, Whitmire led the Committee on Criminal Justice and was the lone Democrat to hold a leadership position in the upper chamber controlled by Patrick, an ultraconservative Republican.

"Voters have spoken, and I am humbly grateful to the people of Houston for electing me as their next mayor," Whitmire said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, announcing his victory. "While this marks the beginning of the true challenge ahead, as you all know, my only reason for running was to make a difference."

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On Monday, Jackson Lee filed for reelection to her U.S. House seat, which represents parts of Houston in Congress. Additionally, a number of candidates have filed to run for Whitmire's Senate seat, including Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D-Houston, who has represented parts of Houston and Harris County in the state House since 2016.

Whitmire conducted many of the procedural and ceremonial duties through the years as the "dean of the Senate," and his exit from the Capitol leaves Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, first elected in 1987, as the chamber's longest-serving member.

Patrick announced Tuesday that he was appointing Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton, to chair the Criminal Justice Committee beginning in January. Flores worked under Whitmire as vice chair this year.

"I certainly have big shoes to fill succeeding Chairman Whitmire," Flores said in a statement. "His 30 years of leadership on the committee have been instrumental in shaping the law enforcement landscape in Texas."

Patrick, Abbott endorse Hagenbuch for open seat

In North Texas, state Sen. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, is not seeking reelection, providing an opportunity for Patrick to further influence the makeup of his chamber.

Patrick and Abbott have endorsed Brent Hagenbuch, a former Denton County Republican Party chairman and businessman, to take over Springer's conservative district.

“Simply put, he is everything we need and want in the Texas Senate," Patrick said in endorsing Hagenbuch. "He will be a great addition to the Senate and an asset to the important work we do."

On Monday evening, Cody Clark, who has filed to run in the GOP primary for Senate District 30, said he plans to challenge Hagenbuch's eligibility to run for the seat due to residency requirements and a concern that Hagenbuch lives outside of the district.

Questions on the location of Hagenbuch's permanent residence have come from others in addition to Clark's formal complaint, but Hagenbuchsaid in a brief statement to KERA News in North Texas on Tuesday morning that he calls the Senate district home.

"I am a resident of Senate District 30," he said. "I'm spending my time campaigning for stronger borders, parent rights and a robust economy."

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State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, filed his candidacy for a post in the nation's capital. On Monday, he filed for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Texas' junior senator, Republican Ted Cruz.

“I’m running against Ted Cruz, because everything we’ve seen in this state has been nothing but Republicans taking care of their rich donors, while the working class gets left behind," Gutierrez said after filing. "I’m going to work hard to fix the real problems of today. Texans will have a senator that will fight for them."

Gutierrez's state Senate seat is not up for election until 2026, so he would be able to hold on to his current office if he loses his bid for the Democratic nomination in March or a general election race against Cruz in November.

Several candidates, including U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, have filed for the Democratic nomination to challenge Cruz.

Of the 15 state Senate seats up for reelection in 2024, 13 incumbents — seven Democrats and six Republicans — are seeking reelection and expected to return to the Capitol in 2025.

Dallas Democrats fighting for Texas Senate seat

In an unexpected challenge Monday, state Rep. Victoria Neave Criado, D-Dallas, filed to run for the Texas Senate seat held by Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas.

Neave Criado, chairwoman of the House Mexican American Legislative Caucus, said in a statement announcing her campaign on X that she is ready to make the transition from the House to the Senate to ramp up the fight in the Republican-dominated chamber.

"In a post-Dobbs world where extremist Republicans are terrorizing a pregnant woman who just wants to protect her health and her ability to have a healthy baby, we need bold leaders who are not afraid to stand up and speak out, no matter the consequences," Neave Criado said Monday.

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In her announcement, Neave Criado chided Johnson, the incumbent, for not being more vocal as the Senate advanced legislation to clamp down on the state's LGBTQ+ residents through limitations on sexually oriented performances and gender-affirming medical care.

"As Democrats, we must decide if we’re satisfied with business as usual, or if we are going to up our game," Neave Criado said.

Johnson largely rebuffed Neave Criado's claims and pointed to his initial victory that flipped the Senate district into Democratic control in 2018, when Johnson defeated Republican incumbent Donald Huffines.

"I've been unwavering and outspoken in my opposition to the right-wing agenda, while delivering major policy wins that improve people's lives," Johnson said in a statement. "That's what being a good legislator is about. Leadership is more than just talk."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 2024 Election: Texas primary races take shape as filing period ends