There will be several contested races at the county level and beyond after the filing period for March primary elections ended Monday, December 11.
Hill County Sheriff Rodney Watson will be challenged in the Republican Primary by Hillsboro resident Hunter Barnes, who is currently a sheriff’s deputy in Ellis County.
Hill County Tax Assessor-Collector Krystal Hightower also drew a challenger in the Republican Primary. Cody Brannen, an Itasca resident, also filed for the position.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Jim Holcomb, who was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Andy Montgomery in January, filed to seek a full term in office. He will be challenged by Michael Richardson in the Republican Primary.
The race for Hill County Precinct 1 constable will also be contested, with Rob Best and Kyle Nevil filing as Republicans. Current Constable John Miller will not seek reelection.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Scotty Hawkins was the only Republican to file for his seat, but he will be challenged in the general election by Hubbard resident Pollyanna Thibodeau, who filed as a Democrat.
County candidates running unopposed will be County Attorney David Holmes, Precinct 2 Constable Justin Girsh, Precinct 3 Constable Larry Armstrong, Precinct 4 Constable Kevin Cordell, Republican County Chair Will Orr and Democratic County Chair Thom Hanson.
The only contested race in Bosque County will be for the office of tax assessor-collector. Incumbent Arlene Swiney will be challenged in the Republican primary by Ann Dawson.
Others filing as Republicans were Zach Brown – county attorney; Max Smith – county attorney (unexpired term); sheriff – Trace Hendricks; Pam Browning – county treasurer, unexpired term; Billy Hall – Precinct 1 commissioner; Chad Holt – Precinct 3 commissioner; Scott Ferguson – Precinct 1 constable; Jay Sparkman – Precinct 2 constable.
Marisusan Kennedy filed to serve as Republican Party chair, and Thomas Schenck filed as Democratic Party chair in Bosque County.
In the race for U.S. Representative District 6, incumbent Jake Ellzey will be joined on the Republican primary ballot by James Buford of Palmer and Cliff Wiley of Corsicana.
District 13 State Representative Angelia Orr will not have a primary challenger, but Democrat Albert Hunter, a retired educator from Bosque County, will seek the office in the general election.
In other state races, incumbent Christi Craddick will be challenged by James “Jim” Matlock in the Republican race for railroad commissioner, and Bill Burch and Katherine Culbert will seek the nomination for the Democrats.
Jimmy Blacklock, the incumbent, was the only Republican to file for Place 2 on the Texas Supreme Court. Dasean Jones and Randy Sarosdy will seek the Democratic nomination.
Place 4 will be decided in November, with incumbent Republican John Devine and Democrat Christine Vinh Weems seeking the seat.
Incumbent Jane Bland, a Republican, was the only candidate to file for Place 6 on the court.
Also uncontested in the next election cycle will be incumbent Republican Michelle Slaughter for Place 8 on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and Matt Johnson, who filed as a Republican for chief justice of the 10th Court of Appeals.
Incumbent U.S. Senator Ted Cruz will be challenged on the Republican primary ballot by Holland “Redd” Gibson of Houston and R.E. (Rufus) Lopez of San Antonio.
Democrats seeking the Senate seat are Colin Allred of Dallas, Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio, Aaron Arguijo, A. “Robert” Hassan, Steven Keough and Thierry Tchenko.
There will also be a presidential election in 2024. Democrats on the primary ballot will be incumbent Joseph R. Biden Jr., Robert Star Locke, Frankie Lozada, Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato, Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson. Republican candidates approved to appear on Texas primary ballots include Ryan L. Binkley, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, David Stuckenberg and Donald J. Trump.
The March primary elections will be Tuesday, March 5, with early voting scheduled for the two weeks before the election date.
