House District 145 runoff date set

Melissa Noriega, left, and Christina Morales, candidates for Texas House District 145 Melissa Noriega, left, and Christina Morales, candidates for Texas House District 145 Photo: Staff Photos / Staff Photo: Staff Photos / Staff Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close House District 145 runoff date set 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Gov. Greg Abbott has set March 5 as the date for the special election runoff to succeed state Sen. Carol Alvarado in the Texas House.

Early voting begins Feb. 25 and ends March 1.

An eight-candidate field was whittled to two on Jan. 29, when Democrats Christina Morales and Melissa Noriega finished with the most votes, but short of a majority needed to win the election outright.

More than two weeks into the runoff, they are battling for the seat vacated by Alvarado, D-Houston, after she was elected to the Senate in a December special election to replace Sylvia Garcia, who was elected to Congress.

About 3,500 voters turned out for the first round of the special election, in which Morales finished with 36 percent of the vote and Noriega drew 31 percent.

The heavily Hispanic district covers part of the Heights, cutting southeast through downtown, South Houston and Pasadena to Beltway 8. Turnout amounted to about 5 percent of the district’s 73,000 registered voters.

Though Morales and Noriega have taken similarly liberal policy views, they are campaigning on different messages.

Noriega has emphasized her background as a former Houston city council member and the seat’s former state representative, saying she could transition quickly to the role amid an ongoing legislative session.

Meanwhile, Morales often brings up her community ties as a local businessowner, and casts herself as a “strong Latina leader” who would legislate in the mold of Alvarado.

Thus far, Morales has drawn the support of Garcia. Noriega has touted the endorsements of former Democratic foes Elias de la Garza and Oscar Del Toro, who finished fourth and fifth in the first round of the special election.

Planned Parenthood Texas, the Texas Organizing Project and former Houston mayor Annise Parker also have endorsed Noriega, while Morales has received City Councilwoman Karla Cisneros’ endorsement.

Alvarado has not weighed in on the race, though many of her top campaign staffers are working on Morales’ election bid.

The runoff winner will join the Texas Legislature during an ongoing session in which lawmakers are taking an early focus on reforming property taxes and Texas’ school finance system, two topics that Abbott has flagged as emergency items.

One other House seat remains open: a Republican and Democrat are in the runoff for San Antonio’s House District 125 seat. For now, Republicans outnumber Democrats 83 to 65 in the lower chamber, though Democrats are guaranteed a 66th seat in District 145.

jasper.scherer@chron.com

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