| Last week, Burnt Orange Report previewed the 36 Congressional races on the ballot on Texas this cycle. That includes the four seats we added due to redistricting (Districts 33, 34, 35 and 36), and two without an incumbent due to retirements (Districts 14 and 20) and a district that was drawn specifically to try and force out Lloyd Doggett (District 25). We rated the races in terms of hotness, from Pepper Spray to Peppermint Patty, based on the heat of the primary and or general election. Take a look!
Now, we want to know what Texas Congressional race you think is the hottest this year. Burnt Orange Report will run a reader's poll for preferred candidates in the three races you vote to be the hottest this year.
CD-14: Ron Paul's retirement creates an open seat that has drawn 10 Republicans, including state legislator Randy Weber. On the Democratic side, former Rep. Nick Lampson looks to capitalize on strong name ID in the region.
CD-15: Ruben Hinojosa has drawn four primary challengers, but if their websites are any indication, they aren't serious campaigners.
CD-16: Long-time Rep. Silvestre Reyes is facing a serious challenge from former El Paso Congressman Beto O'Rourke.
CD-21: SOPA instigator and Internet scourge Lamar Smith faces two serious primary challengers, and a Reddit community campaign to oust him. Can the tech community unite behind a candidate and propel him over Smith?
CD-23: Republican Quico Canseco faces an uphill re-election battle, but first a hotly contested Democratic primary will decide if State Rep. Pete Gallego or former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez gets the job of dispatching the Republican.
CD-25: It's Williams on Williams, as Roger "I'll Run Anywhere" W. squares off against Michael "CPAC Attendees Think I'm A Waiter" W. 9 other Republicans are in the mix too in this new Republican district that gerrymanders East Austin, parts of Bell County, and even southern Tarrant County.
CD-27: Blake "Ducky Pajamas" Farenthold won't be appearing on any Hill Hotties list any time soon (other than in jest) but he's got a hot race on his hand: three primary challengers. The Democratic primary will also be interesting as Bastrop Co. Judge Ronnie McDonald, Rose Meza Harrison and two other candidates square off to be the Democratic nominee.
CD-30: Eddie Bernice Johnson faces two serious challengers: former State Rep. Barbara Mallory Caraway, and trial attorney Taj Clayton. EBJ has dispatched challengers before; will the strength of these candidates and her ongoing ethical problems oust the incumbent?
CD-33: This minority-opportunity district spans Tarrant and Dallas counties. The Democratic district has drawn 11 candidates, including State Rep. Marc Veasey, Fort Worth Council Member Kathleen Hicks, former State Rep. Domingo Garcia, former judge JR Molina, former Dallas Councilmember Steve Salazar, Tarrant Co. JP Manuel Valdez, and other local activists. The big questions are who dominates Dallas County, and who makes the run-off.
CD-34: This new South Texas district runs from Corpus Christi to the border, and has drawn eight Democratic candidates. Most of the candidates have strong governing or policy experience, and again here the question is who makes it to the run-off.
CD-35: The new Democratic district that runs from Southeast Travis County down to Bexar County was the choice for Democrat Lloyd Doggett, who was drawn out of CD-25. He faces Bexar County Tax Assessor Sylvia Romo and former Lt. Gov. candidate Maria Luisa Alvarado. Doggett has previously represented over 50% of the new 35th, and should run strong in the Hays and Caldwell portions of the district.
CD-36: This new and extremely Republican district in East Texas has drawn 13 candidates, including State Senator Mike Jackson. No word yet if the Klan will be endorsing.
Vote in our poll! Tell us what you think the hottest race is in Texas this year. We'll do reader polls for preferred candidates in the top three vote-getters. Please vote once; duplicate email addresses will be eliminated. |
