By Lauren Fairbanks and J Pete Laney
TAD Governmental Affairs
While candidates are pushing forward with their reelection bids, committee work is underway on the interim charges issued to study policies and legislative priorities ahead of the 90th legislative session. View a list of upcoming meeting notices here and here.
In the last several weeks, committee hearings heard testimony about some very important issues facing dairy and state agriculture, namely the state’s response to the New World screwworm (NWS). The Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee heard testimony on May 11 from a panel of witnesses to address the committee’s charge to safeguard the Texas livestock industry. The committee examined the state’s preparedness and response strategies regarding the NWS and evaluated the effectiveness of current surveillance, monitoring and control efforts by the Texas Animal Health Commission and partner agencies to prevent reintroduction of NWS into Texas. Witnesses included Dudley Hoskins, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); Dr. Phillip Kaufman, Texas A&M AgriLife; Dr. Bud Dinges, Texas Animal Health Commission; Dr. T.J. Lansford, Texas Animal Health Commission; and Dr. David Yoskowitz, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
Hoskins, undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the USDA, spoke about collaboration with Mexico in attempts to stop the spread of the fly, as well as the fast-tracked new sterilization facilities in Edinburg. Kaufman predicted that the spread of the NWS to Texas would cost the state economy $1.8 billion in cost impacts to production and animal health.
The next day, the House Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee held a hearing on its NWS interim charge: “New World Screwworm Action Plan – Evaluate the preparedness of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to respond to the threat of New World screwworm to Texas’ wildlife populations. Examine staffing levels, funding, interagency coordination and response protocols to ensure the state is adequately prepared for response and mitigation of outbreaks.” Witnesses included Dr. David Yoskowitz, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department; Andrew Earl, Texas Wildlife Association; Nash Murray, Texas Deer Association; and Warren Cude, Texas Farm Bureau. This hearing focused primarily on the movement of native wildlife.
Legislators and Capitol staffers did find some time in between interim hearings to have some fun at the Texas Ag Council “Ag Day” on May 13 in Luling. The day is an opportunity for Capitol staffers to get up close and personal with livestock and learn about production agriculture across the state through live demonstrations and Q&A sessions.
Special Election and May Runoff
Senate District 4 Special Election (Brandon Creighton seat)
Republican Brett Ligon, former Montgomery County District Attorney (2009-2025), won the May 2 special election for the Senate District 4 seat over Democrat Ron Angeletti, an educator, special needs advocate and small business owner. Ligon will fill the unexpired term of Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) who left the Senate to become chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. Ligon and Angeletti will face each other again in the November general election for a full term that begins in January.
Statewide May Runoff Election
Primary runoff Election Day is May 26 with early voting May 18 to 22. April 27 was the last day to register to vote. Several of the races at the top of the ticket have been contentious and expensive. The Republican U.S. Senate primary race alone has become the most expensive on record anywhere in the country, with more than $125 million already spent on advertising with even more estimated to be spent in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
Here is a rundown of each of the races that will be on the ballot:
Statewide
(3 Republican and 2 Democrat)
U.S. Senate (R): John Cornyn (incumbent) vs. Ken Paxton
Lieutenant Governor (D): Vikki Goodwin vs. Marcos Velez
Attorney General (D): Nathan Johnson vs. Joe Jaworski
Attorney General (R): Chip Roy vs. Mayes Middleton
Railroad Commission (R): Jim Wright (incumbent) vs. Bo French
Texas Senate
SD 19 (R): Marcus Cardenas vs. Robert Marks. Winner will face incumbent Roland Gutierrez (D).
Texas House
Republican Seats (3)
HD 40: Nehemias Gomez vs. Celeste Cabrera-Huff. Winner will face incumbent Terry Canales (D).
HD 41: Sergio Sanchez vs. Gary Groves. Open seat, incumbent Bobby Guerra (D) retiring.
HD 126: Kelly Peterson vs. Stan Stanart. Open seat, incumbent Sam Harless (R) retiring.
Democratic Seats (8)
HD 37: Ozzy Ochoa vs. Esmerelda Cantu-Castle. Winner will face incumbent Janie Lopez (R).
HD 41: Seby Haddad vs. Julio Salinas. Open seat, incumbent Bobby Guerra (D) retiring.
HD 49: Kathie Tovo vs. Montserrat Garibay. Open seat, incumbent Gina Hinojosa (D) running for governor.
HD 97: Beth McLaughlin vs. Diane Symons. Winner will face incumbent John McQueeny (R).
HD 100: Venton Jones (incumbent) vs. Amanda Richardson.
HD 125: Adrian Reyna vs. Michelle Vela. Open seat, incumbent Ray Lopez (D) retiring.
HD 131: Lawrence Allen Jr. vs. Staci Childs. Open seat, incumbent Alma Allen (D) retiring,
HD 149: Hubert Vo (incumbent) vs. Darlene Breaux
