A Texas special election changed a historically blue region of South Texas red.
QUICK FACTS:
- Republican Mayra Flores won a Tuesday special election for an open congressional seat in South Texas, changing the historically Democrat district Republican.
- Flores, who will be the first Mexican-born congresswoman, received 51% of the vote over Dan Sanchez, who received 43%.
- The special election was held to replace former Democratic Rep. Filemon Vela who resigned in March to work for the lobbying firm Akin Gump.
- Democrat challenger Dan Sanchez blamed his party’s lack of support in his concession speech Tuesday evening: “Too many factors were against us, including little to no support from the National Democratic Party and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee,” Sanches said.
- Flores’s victory speech was a call to action for her supporters, telling the consistently Democrat-represented district, “For over 100 years, we have been taken for granted. I will show you what real representation looks like. I will represent all people,” she said.
OTHER REPUBLICAN WINS TUESDAY:
- In the state of South Carolina Russell Fry, who secured the backing of former President Donald Trump, beat out Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC) in the primary race. Rice was known as one of the Republicans in the House of Representatives who backed impeachment for the former president.
- In Nevada Trump-backed Sheriff Joe Lombardo won the Republican nomination for Nevada’s governor’s race on Tuesday.
- The former president also backed Nevada Senate candidate Adam Laxalt who won the nomination for the Republican Party.
BACKGROUND:
- Trump has become heavily involved in the Republican quest to win back the House and Senate, endorsing 205 candidates in 2022.
- Thus far, 94% of the candidates who received the coveted Trump-backing have won their primary or special elections.
