Texas — 6th District

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the special runoff election in Texas’ 6th Congressional District to be held on July 27.

Early voting will start July 19.

The race to replace the late Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington, after he died from COVID-19 while also battling cancer in February, attracted national attention and 23 candidates in April, including former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Chief of Staff Brian Harrison and Democratic front-runner Jana Sanchez.

In July, two Republicans will face off: Wright’s widow, Susan Wright, will face state Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Waxahachie. This is the second time Ellzey will face a Wright, after he lost the primary election against Ron Wright in 2018. In the special election, Wright got 19% of the vote, while Ellzey received 14%.

The contest has already attracted attention from former President Donald Trump, who endorsed Wright, and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is backing Ellzey. It will help shape the future of the district, which includes Tarrant, Ellis and Navarro counties.

Wright finished first in the district partly because of the support she garnered from Trump, who endorsed her a day before early voting ended. His backing gives her clout among Trump voters, as part of the Make America Great Again and America-First agenda.

Wright’s campaign has accused Ellzey of being a “RINO” -- a Republican in Name Only -- and the Club for Growth released ads attacking him for being anti-Trump, but Perry vouched for the retired Navy commander and combat veteran. Ellzey hopes to recruit some Trump voters with a positive campaign.