AUSTIN — An anesthesiologist. An educator. An intelligence operative who speaks four languages. Voters in Fort Bend will have seven choices for their next state representative in a special election that could signal how hard Democrats are willing to work in Republican territory to pick up seats in an effort to take control of the Texas House.

The race has attracted more than $1 million in loans and at least $450,000 in spending between the six Republicans and a single Democrat since the special election was called in August, according to campaign records filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.

“We’re sure going to stand our ground here,” said Linda Howell, chairwoman of the Fort Bend County Republican Party.

The winner will take over for former Rep. John Zerwas, an influential Republican from Richmond. One candidate, educator Elizabeth “Eliz” Markowitz, is hoping to turn the district blue.

Presidential hopeful and former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke made a cameo appearance in her campaign last month, speaking at a rally for her and knocking on doors in Markowitz’s district. Small donations poured in, with 73 people giving money to her campaign after O’Rourke introduced her on Facebook Live. Some 800 donors from 44 states have contributed to her campaign.

Markowitz, a teacher trainer, has raised nearly $62,000 in political donations since July and has $38,000 to spend heading into the final month before the election. Democrats are looking to the race for signs of whether Texas will flip in the 2020 presidential election, shifting the power dynamic in a state long led by Republicans.

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“To me, this race is an opportunity to change the narrative that has been written for Texas for the past two decades,” said Markowitz. “This is a bellwether election.”

A candidate must earn more than 50 percent of the vote to win the election outright, meaning the crowded race is likely to result in a runoff.

The district is reliably Republican, but Democrats plan to test that party loyalty. Voters elected every statewide Republican on the ballot, and Zerwas won re-election last year by a comfortable 8 percentage point margin. But in the most contested race in the state, Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz eked out 51 percent of the vote there, just three points ahead of Democrat Beto O’Rourke.

President Donald Trump won the district by 10 percentage points in 2016.

More Information The candidates Republican Anna Allred of Houston, anesthesiologist Republican Gary Gates of Rosenberg, business owner Republican Gary Hale of Katy, former intelligence officer, small business owner Republican Tricia Krenek of Katy, attorney Republican Sarah Laningham of Katy, salesperson Republican Clinton Purnell of Katy, background in logistics Democrat Elizabeth “Eliz” Markowitz, teaching instructor

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The Republican candidates include anesthesiologist Anna Allred of Houston; business owner Gary Gates of Rosenberg; former intelligence officer Gary Hale of Katy; attorney Tricia Krenek of Katy; salesperson Sarah Laningham of Katy; and Clinton Purnell, who has a background in logistics and lives in Katy.

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Allred, a partner at US Anesthesia Partners, said she fears a win by the Democrats to take the seat will signal that Texans’ values are “up for grabs.”

“It’s really more about the traditional values. That’s really what’s at stake here and under attack and I think that’s why it’s gotten so much attention.”

Allred has reported raising nearly $159,000 through a super political action committee, the most raised by any candidate. Medical groups and associations are her biggest donors, giving nearly $123,000. She belongs to the same health care group to which Zerwas belonged.

However, Gary Gates has spent the most money on the race thus far. He spent more than $214,000 on his campaign since July and has loaned his campaign another $820,000.

“We’ve spent a lot,” said Gates, a business owner who said he wants more Texas students to graduate high school with vocational training to open up their prospects to high-paying trade jobs.

Zerwas’ departure thrust the district into the political fray as Democrats set ambitious election goals to flip nine House seats in the 2020 election. If Democrats succeed, they will break a 17-year trifecta of Republican control of the House, Senate and governor’s office. If Democrats win a majority of House seats, they would command a major role in the redrawing of Congressional and legislative districts following next year’s census.

“I think we’re very bullish,” said Tyler Mitchell, candidate services director for the Texas Democratic Party. “I am confident this will be one of the seats we will be able to pick up.”

Losers will have a second chance to pick up the seat in 2020. While the winner of the special election will benefit from incumbency after the special election, they will have to face the March primary and the general election next year.

Few expected Zerwas to retire. He was the lead architect of the state’s $251 billion budget and served in the Legislature for a dozen years. He was appointed University of Texas System vice chancellor for health affairs in August. He left office last week.

Gary Hale, a former intelligence officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration who speaks four languages, considers himself an expert on the border. He said he wants to help craft government policies after spending years implementing them, but first that means politicians cutting through caustic political rhetoric.

“We’re not getting past the noise, it’s all finger-pointing and accusing,” he said.

The 28th District stretches from Simonton to Mission Bend and Katy to Rosenberg. The election is Nov. 5.