Moser, Fletcher appear headed to runoff for right to take on incumbent Culberson

Laura Moser, running for U.S. Representative for Texas's 7th congressional district, challenging JOhn Cullerson. Laura Moser, running for U.S. Representative for Texas's 7th congressional district, challenging JOhn Cullerson. Photo: Revolution_Messaging / Courtesy Photo: Revolution_Messaging / Courtesy Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Moser, Fletcher appear headed to runoff for right to take on incumbent Culberson 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

WASHINGTON — In one of the most pivotal congressional races in the nation, two Houston Democrats in Tuesday’s Texas primaries appeared headed for a runoff for the right to challenge nine-term GOP incumbent John Culberson in November.

Going first in an election year that could decide control of the U.S. House for the rest of President Donald Trump’s first term, Texas voters whittled down the contenders in a slew of potentially competitive congressional races, including three ranked among the 20 closest contests in the nation.

In the statewide congressional primaries, large fields of Democrats vied to catch what they see as a “blue wave” in the 2018 midterm elections. Runoff elections appeared likely in several Democratic and Republican races in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.

In Houston’s 7th Congressional District, attorney Lizzie Pannill Fletcher and author-activist Laura Moser appeared to be the top vote-getters in a seven-candidate Democratic field of well-funded and organized rivals, according to early returns. But even with Fletcher comfortably ahead, she did not appear likely to secure a majority of the votes cast, meaning she would likely face a May 22 runoff against Moser.

A top-two finish for Moser, a progressive who has come under attack from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, guaranteed that the divisions between the insurgent and establishment wings of the party would play out well into spring.

Culberson, for his part, cruised easily to the Republican nomination in the district, which includes the western part of Houston and the Harris County suburbs. It is an affluent, majority minority district that has been targeted by Democrats since Hillary Clinton carried it in the 2016 presidential election.

Two other Republican-held districts in Texas where Clinton won also saw competitive Democratic primaries.

In the West Texas border district held by GOP incumbent Will Hurd, one Democrat appeared to emerge out of a field of five: Former Air Force intelligence officer Gina Ortiz Jones. She and former federal prosecutor Jay Hulings both far outraised the rest of the Democratic challengers, though there was no clear second-place finisher in the tightly-bunched group. Ortiz Jones was close to the 50 percent mark in early voting, but she, too, could potentially be headed for a run-off in May.

In the Dallas-area district represented by GOP incumbent Pete Sessions, seven Democrats were contending to advance to the general election in November. Closing in on the primary election, the three top fundraisers were Edward Meier, Colin Allred, and Lillian Salerno. But in early voting, Allred was out in front, with former television reporter Brett Shipp coming in second, though with nobody on the cusp of 50 percent.

Like Culberson’s district in Houston, Sessions’ is a mix of city and suburban voters that Democrats hope can be peeled away from Trump-aligned Republican House members in a midterm election season that is traditionally tough for the party in power.

Another suburban district Democrats hope to put in play in November is the 22nd Congressional District around Fort Bend County south of Houston. It is represented by Republican Pete Olson, who most analysts consider safe. But with the area’s influx of immigrants and minorities, at least four Democrats were vying in a primary to challenge Olson in November.

Leading the Democratic pack in early results was Sri Preston Kulkarni, a former foreign service officer. Close behind were Steve Brown, a health care advocate, and Letitia Plummer, who has a dental practice in Pearland. But none of the top vote-getters, appeared close to 50 percent in early voting, making another run-off likely.

Democrats also set their sights on at least two of the six House seats being vacated by retiring Republicans. One of the chief targets is the suburban Houston district where former judge and seven-term incumbent Ted Poe is stepping down after a bout with cancer.

Five Democrats were vying in Poe’s 2nd Congressional District, which wraps around the Houston’s northern and western suburbs. By far the best funded and organized was attorney, non-profit executive, and Democratic activist Todd Litton, who appeared close to an outright win in early voting.

In a mirror image of many of Tuesday’s Democratic primaries, the 2nd District featured a crowded field of nine Republicans as well. Heading into the primary, the Republican to beat appeared to be Kathaleen Wall, a largely self-funded conservative activist and fundraiser running with the backing of Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. But even with a campaign treasury of some $6 million, she trailed State Rep. Kevin Roberts in early voting, making a GOP runoff likely. Military veteran Dan Crenshaw also appeared to be vying for a second-place finish.

Another top prospect for Republicans moving up is the suburban San Antonio seat being vacated by House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith. No fewer than 14 Republicans were in contention, among them Chip Roy, Cruz’s former chief of staff, and former Bexar County GOP Chairman Robert Stovall. Roy appeared to be running ahead in early results, but not by enough to avoid a runoff. Dark horse candidate William Negley, a former CIA officer, also was running strong.

Four Democrats also competed in the District 21 primary, with Joseph Kopser, a West Point graduate who served in Iraq, running ahead, but still short of 50 percent in early returns, despite easily winning the pre-primary money chase. Given the district’s sprawling suburban makeup, Democratic strategists believe this district also gives them a badly-needed pick-up opportunity in a year where 24 are needed to win back Democratic control of the House.

But two other high-profile GOP retirements - despite accusations of sexual harassment or impropriety - do not appear like realistic opportunities for Democrats. One, represented by Corpus Christi Republican Blake Farenthold, is expected to stay in GOP hands.

Six Republicans were in the running Tuesday for Farenthold’s seat. Bech Bruun, who has worked in the administrations of Govs. Greg Abbott and Rick Perry, seemed to be in contention with Michael Cloud, a member of the state GOP executive committee, for a run-of.

In the seat outside Dallas represented by Arlington Republican Joe Barton - laid low last year by sexually explicit materials he emailed in an extramarital affair - there were seven Republicans and five Democrats in the primary. Conservative veteran Jake Ellzey seemed to have the edge in early results. Though no clear winners had emerged, but the district has historically been safe for Republicans.

Regardless of the primary results, Texans are certain to see new Republican faces replacing two other retiring GOP lawmakers: Jeb Hensarling in Dallas, and Sam Johnson in Plano.

One other prominent retirement was that of Houston Democrat Gene Green, one of the few Anglos in Texas representing a Hispanic majority district. Seven Democrats were competing in a primary that is all but likely to produce an eventual winner in November.